Novak Djokovic has shared his favourite off-court story about Rafael Nadal, while he also revealed his favourite on-court memory involving his great rival.
Nadal retired from tennis after playing the last match of his staggering career at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga last week.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion was beaten by Botic van de Zandschulp in the first rubber of Spain’s surprise 2-1 quarter-final loss to the Netherlands.
Djokovic downed Nadal in the Spanish legend’s penultimate match at the 2024 Paris Olympics in July — in what was the 60th and final meeting between the two greats. The duo have contested more matches then any other male players in the Open Era.
In a video shared by the ATP Tour, Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all shared messages to pay tribute to Nadal, while a host of other stars from tennis and other sports also contributed.
Djokovic reflected on Nadal’s legacy and his standout memories of his greatest rival.
“He’s got many different incredible legacies that he will leave behind him, the achievements that are incredible, historically,” the Serbian said.
“The tenacity, the intensity, the energy that he brought to the courts from the first match to the very last match.
“My best Rafa story, privately, was seeing him dance in Colombia when we played an exhibition match together in 2011.
“And professionally was when he let me win my first match against him in Roland Garros. Thanks Rafa (smiles).”
Djokovic also sent a separate tribute to Nadal in a video shared by the Davis Cup social media accounts:
Rafa. First all, congratulations on your amazing career. Your family, your team, yourself should be extremely proud of everything that you have achieved throughout your career that lasted for more than 20 years. In the tennis locker room, we will miss your warmups, your sprints, your jumps, your incredibly competitive parchis, the games that you had with your team before your matches.
We had a lot of fun times, sharing the locker room and, you know, I just hope that today, even though it is a sad day for tennis — even though it is a sad day for Spain and sport in general, that you are retiring — at the same time, I hope that everyone will celebrate your career because there is so much to embrace, so much to celebrate.
I think, more importantly — and you would agree with this — is the the mark that you left behind in terms of the connection with the people, in terms of how you inspired millions of children around the world to grab a tennis racket. How you conveyed your passion and love for the game, how you carried yourself on the court. How you showed respect to your opponents, to the entire tennis ecosystem throughout the course of your entire career.
Your tenacity, your fighting spirit, the energy that you brought every single time, the strength, the power, is something that will be studied and is something that will be transferred to many, many generations that are coming up and aspiring to be like you as a person and as a great tennis champion. I’ve been very honoured and thrilled to be called your rival over the last, almost 20 years, we’ve played more than 60 matches. I have learned so much in our encounters and thank you very much for also making me the player that I am and that I was over the last 20 years
The tennis world and the sports world will miss the incredible energy that you brought on the court. My friend, I wish you the very best of luck with your charity foundation, with your family, with your Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy that continues to thrive, that continues to spread around the world where you will be able to spread the experiences and the knowledge and the passion and love you have for the game to the younger generation. Thank you very much and good luck my friend.
