There is hardly anyone who remains untouched by the sadness surrounding Rafael Nadal‘s departure from tennis. The Mallorcan legend played his final match in Malaga, and though the match ended in a defeat, his retirement was far greater than the match outcome. His goodbye stirred emotions across generations of tennis players, past and present. Emotional tributes poured in, showcasing how his admiration transcended the boundaries of the ATP and reached the WTA players. Legends and rising stars like Maria Sharapova, Iga Swiatek, and Emma Raducanu offered heartfelt messages, expressing that Nadal has etched into tennis.

Nadal bid an emotional farewell to his decade-long illustrious career during the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga. The 22-time Grand Slam champion faced a tough loss against the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp, falling 6-4, 6-4 in the singles match. Despite Nadal’s defeat, 2024 Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz carried the baton for Spain, defeating Tallon Griekspoor in the second singles match to keep his team’s hopes alive. However, the deciding doubles match proved to be the ultimate curtain call for Nadal. Partnering with Marcel Granollers, Alcaraz fell to Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof, sealing Spain’s exit in the semifinals and marking a bittersweet end to Nadal’s epic career.

The defeat was secondary to the crucial moment of Nadal’s retirement, which left spectators emotional. Addressing the crowd that had supported him throughout his two-decade-long journey, Nadal said, “It has been 20 years of a professional career in which you have carried me through the good times, and in the bad, you pushed me to keep playing.” He congratulated the Netherlands and expressed gratitude to his teammates, adding, “I want to thank the whole Spanish team for letting me play the Davis Cup again, even though it didn’t go as we wanted. I have given everything I had.”

Nadal’s words reflected both a lingering disappointment and his acceptance of the inevitable. “The truth is, you never want to get to this point. I’m not tired of playing tennis, but my body doesn’t want to play anymore, and you have to accept that. I feel super privileged—I’ve been able to make my hobby my profession for a long time,” he admitted.

Nevertheless, Nadal’s retirement brought the veil of sadness to the fraternity. Players like Iga Swiatek, Maria Sharapova, and Emma Raducanu paid heartfelt tributes.

Past and present tennis stars gather to pay tribute to Rafael Nadal on his retirement

Several WTA stars and former pros arrived to honor his legacy, showcasing the intense admiration he commanded among WTA players. Wanna know who topped the list?

One of the emotional tributes came from Maria Sharapova, the five-time Grand Slam champion. Sharing Nike’s post about Nadal on her IG story, Sharapova wrote, “No one like you, @rafaelnadal. I have so much respect for your grit, your love of the ‘fight,’ and the pure class with which you showed up, even on a tough day.” Her words highlighted Nadal’s indomitable spirit and relentless determination, something that made him a legend, a stalwart in his field. Sharapova has long admired the Mallorcan, often expressing her awe at Nadal’s impeccable resilience and ability to recover from injuries. She practiced with the Spaniard on clay—a dream come true for her.

On the other hand, for Iga Swiatek, Nadal’s retirement felt deeply personal and quite unacceptable. The former WTA number-one Polish star has often credited Nadal as her greatest inspiration in tennis. Reflecting on the moment of retirement, Swiatek shared a heartfelt post on social media, writing, “I just can’t 😭 #graciasrafa,” with a picture of the two together. Her reaction echoed the sentiments of countless people who struggled to come to terms with their idol’s departure. After all, Nadal’s retirement takes some charm out of the Roland Garros tournament as the king of clay won’t be there anymore.

Like Swiatek, Emma Raducanu, Britain’s rising star, shared Wimbledon’s tribute to Nadal on her IG story, following a salute and a fire-heart emoji. Though short, her gesture spoke volumes about her admiration for the Mallorcan legend.

Rafael Nadal’s retirement marks the end of an extraordinary era in tennis. With only the Serbian remaining in the iconic Big Three, the tennis fraternity is perplexed as to whether the next generation can ever match their unparalleled legacy. While this remains uncertain, one thing is clear: those who had the privilege of sharing the court with Nadal— as teammates or rivals—gained invaluable lessons from his game. This is because the Spaniard’s career embodied an indomitable spirit, a quality that will forever define his legacy and inspire the sport for generations to come. Do you think the same?