Djokovic surrenders at Nadal’s feet: “Your legacy will live forever”

Novak Djokovic wrote about his old rival Rafael Nadal that his “legacy will live forever”, after the Spaniard announced this Thursday his next retirement in November.

“Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit will be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever,” the Serbian, winner of 24 Grand Slam titles and former world No. 1, wrote on Instagram.

Djokovic and Nadal faced each other 60 times throughout their careers, with the Serbian dominating the head-to-head duels 31-29.

The first time they met on the court was at Roland Garros in 2006, with victory for Nadal, while Djokovic won their last confrontation, also on the courts of Roland Garros, at the Paris Olympic Games this year.

“Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done in our sport. You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis and I think that is probably the greatest achievement that anyone can wish for,” Djokovic added about Nadal, who has 22 Grand Slam titles, while the Serbian has 24.

The Mallorcan will play his last official tournament in the Davis Cup finals in Malaga in November.

“Only you know what you had to endure to become an icon of tennis and sport in general. Thank you for pushing me to the limit so many times in our rivalry, the one that has impacted me the most as a player,” added ‘Djoko’. “Only you know what you had to endure to become an icon of tennis and sport in general. Thank you for pushing me to the limit so many times in our rivalry, the one that has impacted me the most as a player,” added ‘Djoko’.

“Your passion for representing Spain was always extraordinary. I wish you the best possible farewell in Malaga with the Spanish Davis Cup team. I will be there in person to pay my respects for your stellar career,” he announced.