Tributes have flooded in as Rafael Nadal graced the court for the last time at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga on Wednesday.
A 22-time Grand Slam champion, Nadal has had his fair share of rivals, but few more prominent than Roger Federer. And just like their rivalry, the Swiss maestro’s tribute to the Spaniard was prominent in the mind of tennis fans around the world.
Simon Rea, Tennis Australia senior data analyst who previously coached Nick Kyrgios and Sam Stosur, believes this message, and legendary rivalry, is a testament to the beauty of tennis.
“It’s an amazing and unique thing about our sport that you can have two combatants like that at the highest level for so long,” Rea said on The AO Show Weekly podcast.
“I think a big part of what we've loved about both of them is the way they’ve gone about it for everything they have achieved.”
About the social media post, Rea added: “The themes that I was hearing through that are respect and then love for the journey, the mutual journey they’ve gone through. Caught up in there somewhere, there’s an element tinged with sadness because that chapter has closed on us.
“It’s just a lovely part of our game that these combatants can demonstrate that kind of respect and love for each other. Based on the number of times we saw them in the gladiatorial battles, I think it’s just a lovely send-off.”
The pair duelled 40 times over a 15-year period, with Nadal holding a 24-16 advantage.
Given their individual stature and immense rivalry, their camaraderie has set an example, according to former top-30 player Casey Dellacqua.
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“When you’re Rafa and Roger, you have these two phenomenal athletes that have shared history, they’ve shared rivalry, they’ve shared so much,” she said.
“[The letter] was just so respectful, and we can all take a lot from that – a respectful, healthy working relationship that they had with each other and brought the best out in each other,” Dellacqua said.
“Success breeds success and I have no doubt that those two, whilst they were playing their best tennis, made and pushed each other to their nth degree.”
Nadal began competing professionally in 2001, when he was just 15 years of age.
Dellacqua believes entering the next phase after a long career is difficult, especially for someone like Nadal whose career spanned nearly two-thirds of his life.
“Having had transitioned in the last five years out of tennis and when your whole self-identity is wrapped up in being Casey Dellacqua the tennis player, Rafael Nadal the tennis player, the word ‘retired’ does hit quite hard,” said Dellacqua, a former doubles world No.3.
“I think the word ‘graduating’ might to others seem a bit funny, but I think it’s a very good analogy in terms of ‘OK, you’re graduating from that part of your life, but that does not mean that whatever’s next is next’, but you’ve ticked and graduated with almost like a masters of tennis.”
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