Nick Kyrgios has issued a classy 10-word message to retiring tennis legend Rafael Nadal, urging the Spaniard not to retire.Â
On Thursday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion announced that he will officially retire from professional tennis, after much speculation that he could hang up his racket in recent years.Â
The 14-time French Open winner made the announcement via an emotional video that was published on his social media account, reflecting on his distinguished career in sport.Â
But Nadal, 38, has been urged to reconsider his decision by Aussie star Kyrgios, who penned a message to the Spaniard on X (formerly Twitter).
Kyrgios wrote: ‘Rafa don’t retire I wanna play you one last time.’
During their esteemed careers, the pair had not always seen eye-to-eye on the court, with Nadal once appeared to accuse Kyrgios of a lack of respect, with the Aussie star hitting back on social media after the pair faced off at the Mexican Open in 2019.
Nick Kyrgios (right) urged Rafael Nadal (left) not to retire from professional tennis following the Spaniard’s announcement that he would be hanging up his racket
In recent years though, Kyrgios has shown his support for the Spanish legend, claiming that Nadal’s untimely exit from this year’s Australian Open ‘broke his heart’.Â
On Thursday, Kyrgios would issue another classy post on X (formerly Twitter) acknowledging that the pair may have clashed at times but paid tribute to the retiring tennis great. Â
Kyrgios wrote: ‘We had our differences but you were one hell of a warrior. Best wishes and goodluck with whatever comes next.’
Kyrgios stated that he didn’t want Nadal to retire because he wanted to play against him one last timeÂ
The Australian also acknowledged that the pair had their differences but said Nadal was ‘one hell of a warrior’
More to follow…Â
