The Swiss tennis player paid tribute to Rafa Nadal after he announced his retirement, both men having one of the great rivalries.

The Spaniard plans to retire after next month's Davis Cup finals, leading to an outpouring of appreciation for an incredible career that included 22 Grand Slam victories.

The following is Rafa Nadal's retirement statement in which the 22-times Grand Slam champion said on Thursday that he would end his career at the Davis Cup next month: "Hello everybody. I'm here to tell you that I'm retiring from professional tennis.

Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, has announced his retirement from tennis at the end of this season. The 38-year-old Spanish icon will make his final

Rafael Nadal, one of the most successful and admired tennis players in history, has amassed a considerable fortune throughout his career, both from his on-court achievements and lu

Roger Federer, who is also Rafa Nadal's long time rival, led the tributes on social media, which included talismanic Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rafael Nadal, the Spanish tennis star, announced Oct. 10 he will retire after next month's Davis Cup finals. Known for his unrelenting style of play, he was one of the greats of the game in an era that included rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Rafael Nadal’s tennis career will be remembered because of the numbers, yes — the 14 French Open trophies, the 22 Grand Slam titles overall, the nearly two decades in the top 10, and so on — and, without a doubt,

Rafael Nadal, one of tennis's greatest icons, announced on Thursday that he will retire next month at age 38. The 22-time Grand Slam champion revealed the decision on social media. In the video, he states the upcoming Davis Cup finals in Malaga,

The sports world reacts to 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal announcing he will retire from tennis after next month’s Davis Cup finals