As one of the most decorated alpine skiers in history, Lindsey Vonn knows what it takes to perform at the highest level. And yet, the 82-time World Cup race winner also knows that paying heed to the curtain call is also part of the deal. And yet, watching one of the greatest tennis stars ride into the sunset still makes the 40-year-old feel the blues.

For more than two decades, Rafael Nadal has dominated tennis courts worldwide. Thanks to his spectacular career, the Spaniard has established himself as one of the greatest stars ever to grace the sport. And yet, as his latest Davis Cup exit made his followers shed a tear, Vonn also can’t help but feel emotional as the tennis community stands to hail Nadal ahead of his possible retirement.

Nonetheless, Lindsey Vonn took to Instagram to share a photo of herself with Rafa from the Laureus World Sports Awards, held in April this year. With that, she also shared a message to assure the 22x Grand Slam winner that he shouldn’t let his Davis Cup misfortune make his world come crashing. Moreover, Vonn also noted how, over the last twenty years, she has found constant inspiration from the tennis icon. Congratulating Nadal for everything he has achieved in his career, Vonn wrote, “You are an amazing role model and have always competed with class and respect for the game. Thank you for inspiring me and the rest of the world.”

The respect shown by the 2010 Olympic gold winner to the 2016 Olympic champ was truly heartwarming, but Vonn wasn’t done with sowing her conviction about Nadal’s future. “You will be missed, but I’m sure you will not stop inspiring us,” read the caption of Vonn’s IG story, and Nadal’s fans can feel better knowing their hero is also the role model of another legendary athlete.

Hanging up your boots is never an easy task for any professional athlete. And yet, considering the long list of laurels Nadal has amassed in his life, maybe he and his fans will take heart in the fact that he couldn’t have achieved anything more in his illustrious career. However, while Vonn waits to see what Rafa’s future will look like, she has been a steady follower of the latter’s ups and downs over the years.

Lindsey Vonn is a true tennis player, and Rafael Nadal is a connoisseur

The alpine skiing celebrity is currently looking forward to making her comeback after having announced retirement in 2019. As the 2024-25 FIS Ski World Cup season gains momentum, Vonn calms her quivering heart as she joins the likes of Mikaela Shiffrin to return to her natural habitat once again. Only recently did Vonn admit that a conversation with Roger Federer assured her that she could still go out and race down iconic racecourses and relive the thrill that made her fall in love with the sport. However, it’s not just the Swiss icon who hogs all her admiration.

In March this year, Lindsey also bestowed the GOAT title on Nadal. After acknowledging both Federer and Novak Djokovic for their titular impact on the sport, Vonn also noted that Nadal shares a similar status in her eyes and she will always enjoy watching them in action. Naturally, it was a hard pill to swallow when Nadal was posted from the Barcelone Open in April, and Vonn was left heartbroken. On her social media update, she stated, “Can’t Handle This,” underscoring how she was rooting for the Spanish star.

Lindsey also showed up in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games to watch Rafa dominate his opponents once again. “You are a great sportsman and champion. Humble and always incredible to watch,” she had previously said about the enigma that is Rafael Nadal. Are you also sad to see one of the greatest tennis stars embarking on the next adventure of his life? Tell us your feelings below!