Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek salute Rafael Nadal | ATP Tour

Rafael Nadal

Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek salute Rafael Nadal

WTA stars share emotional messages

October 11, 2024

After Rafael Nadal introduced his retirement from skilled tennis on the finish of the 2024 season on Thursday, WTA stars Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff shared heartwarming messages for the previous World No. 1, who spent 209 weeks atop the PIF ATP Rankings throughout his profession.

Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion who considers Nadal her position mannequin, posted a video on social media, sharing ideas about her “largest inspiration” and his influence on her profession.

“You have been and nonetheless are the most important inspiration that I ever had in tennis. The explanation why generally I obtained additional motivated and stored pushing myself,” the four-time Roland Garros champion shared.

Calling it a big day for each tennis fan, Swiatek thanked the 22-time Grand Slam champion for humility and wished him the very best as he prepares for the subsequent chapter of his life.

“I hope you are going to benefit from the different a part of your life and hopefully possibly another profession, as a result of the sky is the restrict for you now. And I hope you’ll spend plenty of time now together with your shut ones and your loved ones.”

RafIga FOREVER ♾#RafaSiempre pic.twitter.com/YPPH7Rd8Vl

— wta (@WTA) October 11, 2024

Coco Gauff additionally shared her ideas concerning the 14-time Roland Garros champion on the Dongfeng Voyah · Wuhan Open WTA event in China.

“He’s my favourite particular person to observe apply truthfully,” the 2023 US Open champion stated. “The depth that he introduced on the apply court docket and clearly on the match court docket is one thing that I felt like watching is unmatched.

“Watching the video, a bit emotional as a result of Rafa is all I’ve recognized rising up. Fairly positive he is gained Roland Garros for almost all of my life,” shared Gauff, born three years after Nadal turned professional in 2001.

She additionally recalled fond recollections of Nadal from this yr’s Paris Olympics.

“Really, I do not suppose I posted the image, however we traded pins on the Olympics, which is the one factor I wished to do. He was tremendous good with that. We have been each ready on the shuttle. It was the final shuttle of the day, like 11 p.m. I requested him if I might have one in all his pins. He gave me one.

“Carlos [Alcaraz] was there, too, however Carlos did not have any pins. I solely took the image with Rafa there. I used to be like, ‘Carlos, you’ll be able to’t be in it since you did not give me a pin,” she shared, laughing.

“Yeah, simply one thing like that I am going to keep in mind. And one thing I am going to positively inform my youngsters as a result of it meant quite a bit to me.”

The Spaniard, who has a 12-7 report for the 2024 season in accordance with Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, will play his closing occasion on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain, in November.

– with help from WTATennis.com.