Rafael Nadal offered a heartfelt reply to Novak Djokovic after the Serbian missed his farewell ceremony at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Djokovic, along with other tennis greats, had planned to attend later rounds, expecting Spain to progress further. However, Spain’s early loss to the Netherlands sent Nadal into retirement sooner than anticipated.
Nadal’s final match marked the end of a legendary 23-year career. Despite Djokovic’s absence, a video tribute from him was played during the ceremony, alongside messages from Andy Murray and Roger Federer. Nadal shared Djokovic’s tribute on his Instagram story, responding, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” with a heart emoji.
In his message, Djokovic praised Nadal’s 20-plus-year career, noting his competitive spirit and contributions to the tennis world. He reflected on shared locker-room moments and expressed hope that Nadal’s legacy would be celebrated despite the somber occasion of his retirement.
While the farewell ceremony drew criticism for its simplicity, Nadal’s gratitude for his peers’ tributes underscored the camaraderie among tennis’ greatest rivals, even as their competitive journeys come to an end.
