Jannik Sinner is into the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, having defeated Daniil Medvedev with some ease.
Breaking in the very first game, the standard was set, and the 23-year-old did not relent from there.
However, today will not be remembered for his stellar performance, but instead for what one legendary figure announced mid-way through that match.
Jannik Sinner reacts to Rafael Nadal’s retirement
Speaking to the press after his latest Shanghai Masters win, dispatching a half-fit Medvedev in straight sets, unsurprisingly attention was dominated by one headline.
Rafael Nadal had announced his retirement from tennis.
So, when asked about the legendary Spaniard, Jannik Sinner said: ‘Well, it’s tough news for, I think, all the tennis world, and not only the tennis world. What I can say, I was very lucky to get to know him also, like, you know, as a person, and he’s an unbelievable person.
‘Of course, the player, we all saw how good he has been as a player, and, you know, the lessons he taught us, the young players, how to behave on the court, how to handle situations on the court, tough situations. Yeah, he gave to all of us a lot of emotions when we saw him playing.
‘And also to stay humble, you know, in the same time, not changing with the success, choosing the right people around him, having a great family.
‘There are so many great things he gave to all of us, and obviously it’s tough news, but in another way everything has a beginning, and it has a start, and also an ending. So, yeah, only he knows how he feels, so it’s, yeah, it’s a tough one.’
The tennis world left stunned by Rafael Nadal news
Sinner is not alone in expressing his shock at Rafael Nadal‘s retirement, but in reality, this felt like an inevitability.
After all, he had missed so many tournaments due to injury across the last few years, with his fitness routinely failing him.
Few could deny the technical talent he still displayed when he did play, but in certain matches, a lack of physicality was evident.
At least this way, he can depart from the sport in a team format, surrounded by his compatriots.
Although, Nick Kyrgios has asked Nadal to re-consider retirement to play him one last time.
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