By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday October 10, 2024
They have been heated rivals. A lot so, that they hardly ever had time for friendship. Such was the sway of the Nadal – Djokovic rivalry, which spanned three many years, and 60 conferences, so lots of them actually epic.
Right this moment, when Rafael Nadal introduced the top of his profession, Djokovic responded with a heartfelt publish on Twitter, thanking the 38-year-old for uplifting hundreds of thousands – together with himself.
“Rafa, one publish is just not sufficient to specific the respect I’ve for you and what you might have carried out for our sport,” Djokovic wrote. “You have got impressed hundreds of thousands of youngsters to start out taking part in tennis and I feel that’s in all probability the best achievement anybody can want for. Your tenacity, dedication, preventing spirit goes to be taught for many years. Your legacy will stay perpetually. Solely you already know what you needed to endure to grow to be an icon of tennis and sport normally.
“Thanks for pushing me to the very restrict so many instances in our rivalry that has impacted me essentially the most as a participant.”
Rafa, one publish is just not sufficient to specific the respect I’ve for you and what you might have carried out for our sport. You have got impressed hundreds of thousands of youngsters to start out taking part in tennis and I feel that’s in all probability best achievement anybody can want for. Your tenacity, dedication, preventing spirit… pic.twitter.com/HO9kUkyccN
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) October 10, 2024
Djokovic who received 31 of the sixty matchups, however was misplaced 11 of 18 on the majors, defeated Nadal en path to his gold medal on the Paris Olympics this yr. It was the pair’s final assembly. Djokovic counseled Nadal for his patriotism as effectively.
“Your ardour for representing Spain has all the time been exceptional. I want you absolute best farewell in Malaga with Davis Cup crew of Spain. I will probably be there in particular person to pay respect to your stellar profession.”
