Rafael Nadal has teased of future dealing with away from the court with the retiring Roger Federer.
On Thursday, the Swiss maestro left fans stunned when he announced he would be walking away from the sport after this month's Laver Cup. That's despite vowing to play Wimbledon at least one more time when he attended the Championships as a guest this summer.
But having been side-lined for more than a year following a third bout of knee surgery, the 41-year-old admitted his body could no longer withstand the rigours of professional tennis. Despite admitting he'd been working towards a return, he conceded: "I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear."
Tributes to the career of the 20-time Grand Slam champion have since poured in, with old rival Nadal among those to offer heartfelt words on social media. The pair could yet play together for the final time at The O2 Arena, when they represent Team Europe against Team World.
"Dear Roger, my friend and rival," he wrote. "I wish this day would have never come. It’s a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world. It’s been a pleasure but also an honour and privilege to share all these years with you, living so many amazing moments on and off the court."
And the Spaniard hinted that the pair's story together would extend beyond their respective on-court careers: "We will have many more moments to share together in the future," he continued.
"There are still lots of things to do together, we know that. For now, I truly wish you all the happiness with your wife, Mirka, your kids, your family and enjoy what’s ahead of you. I’ll see you in London at the Laver Cup."
Joining Federer and Nadal on Bjorn Borg's team will be Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Europeans will be aiming for a fifth consecutive cup win when they take on John McEnroe's men from September 23-25.
Following Federer's announcement, demands for tickets have soared, with many fans complaining of the tournament website crashing when they logged on to try and book seats. Touts have also been trying to sell tickets at a hugely inflated price.
