Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek greet Rafael Nadal | ATP Tour
Nadal-retirement
Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek greet Rafael Nadal
WTA stars share emotional messages
October 11, 2024
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Author: ATP editorial staff
After Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from professional tennis at the end of the 2024 season on Thursday, WTA stars Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff shared touching messages for the former world number one, who spent 209 weeks at the top of the PIF ATP rankings during her career .
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion who counts Nadal as her role model, posted a video on social media sharing her thoughts on her “biggest inspiration” and the impact he had on her career.
“You have been and continue to be my biggest inspiration in tennis. The reason why sometimes I became more motivated and continued to try,” shared four-time Roland Garros champion Swiatek, calling this day a special day for all tennis fans and thanking him. The 22-time Grand Slam champion for his humility and wished him all the best as he prepares for the next chapter of his life.
“I hope you enjoy another part of your life and hopefully some other career because the sky is the limit for you right now. And I hope that now you spend a lot of time with your loved ones and your family.”
For her part, Coco Gauff also shared her thoughts about the 14-time Roland Garros champion at the WTA Dongfeng Voyah – Wuhan Open tournament in China. “He’s my favorite person to watch practice honestly,” the 2023 US Open champion said. “The intensity he showed on the training ground and obviously in the match is something I was excited to watch, incomparable.”
“After watching the video, I’m a little excited because Rafa is all I knew as a child. I’m sure he won Roland Garros most of his life,” said Gauff, who was born three years after Nadal turned professional in 2001.
He also remembered Nadal fondly at this year’s Paris Olympics. “I don’t actually think he posted the photo, but we exchanged pins at the Olympics and that’s the only thing I wanted to do. He was very kind. We were both waiting for transport, this was the last time.” one day at about 11 pm I asked him if he could give me one of his pins and he gave me one!
“Carlos (Alcaraz) was there too, but Carlos didn’t have any badges. I just took a photo there with Rafa. I said, “Carlos, you can’t be in this because you didn’t give me a badge.” “, he shared, laughing.
“Yes, I will remember something like that. And something that I will definitely tell my children because it meant a lot to me.”