Nick Kyrgios sent Rafael Nadal an interesting message as he begged the Spaniard not to retire before doing one thing.
The tennis world let out a tear and a sigh as what we’d all been reluctantly anticipating finally happened.
The 22-time major champion Rafael Nadal announced that he would be retiring at the end of the year.
In Spanish colours and in front of a home crowd at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga, Nadal is set to hang up his racquet for good.
With an immediate outpouring of sympathy coming from fans, pundits, and many of his fellow players, Nick Kyrgios, who he’d experienced a feisty relationship with, was the first to send Nadal a retirement message.
The Australian, in typical fashion, even begged the Spaniard to put his retirement on hold just until Kyrgios can satisfy one burning desire.
READ MORE: Rafael Nadal confirms when his last-ever tennis match will be after announcing retirement
Nick Kyrgios asks Rafael Nadal to fulfil one wish before his retirement
Kyrgios more or less announced his name to the world when he shocked Nadal at the 2014 Wimbledon when he was still a teenager.
Since, the pair have been involved in some bitter battles, with no love being lost between them.
However, having patched their relationship up somewhat, Kyrgios was one of the first to send his rival a message.
Despite the solemnity of the situation, in contrast to the grief, kindness, and sentiment, filling the tennis world, Kyrgios cheekily wrote on X: “Rafa don’t retire I wanna play you 1 last time.”
The Australian later added a message more in keeping with the mood, however sought to acknowledge the disagreements the pair had had over the years.
“We had our differences but you were one hell of a warrior. Best wishes and good luck with whatever comes next,” Kyrgios said.
Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal produced one of the most entertaining rivalries
The slightly disagreeable and outspoken Kyrgios, matched with the mild-mannered, exquisite professionalism of Nadal became a rather curious phenomenon.
With Kyrgios getting the better of the Spaniard on three occasions, excluding the walkover in the 2022 Wimbledon semi-final, Nadal still dominated the rivalry with six wins.
An often ferocious episode of ball-striking, backchat, and drama, Nadal and Kyrgios clearly both relished the opportunity to play one another.
While Kyrgios is set to return to tennis imminently, it feels unfortunate that there will be no chance of, a likely more good natured, last hurrah.
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