22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he will retire at the end of the 2024 season. His final event will be the Davis Cup final in November in Malaga, Spain.

“It’s obviously a difficult decision,” Nadal said in a video announcement posted on social media, “a decision that took me some time, but in this life everything has a beginning and an end and I think it is this Right.” Time to put an end to a career that was long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek posted a heartfelt message on Instagram on Friday addressed to her idol. The two have been close since Swiatek followed in her idol’s footsteps and won Roland Garros as a teenager. She has since won three more French Open titles, securing a three-peat in May. Last year, Nadal invited Swiatek to give a keynote speech at the Rafa Nadal Academy graduation ceremony.

“You were and are the greatest inspiration I have ever had in tennis,” said Swiatek. “The reason why I was sometimes particularly motivated and kept pushing myself.

“Thank you very much for that and thank you for being such a great person off the field. Her humility is something you don’t often see when watching other athletes succeed. You are the one who has always remained honest with yourself.” I am true to myself. Thank you for being such a good person.

“I hope you enjoy the other part of your life and hopefully maybe have another career because the sky is the limit for you now.”

Before her round of 16 match at the Dongfeng Voyah · Wuhan Open, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka watched Nadal’s retirement announcement with tears in her eyes.

“He is an inspiration for all of us, for the next generation, for current players. He’s a legend,” Sabalenka said.

“As he actually said there, everything has a beginning and an end. We will all be there. I’m really happy with what he was able to achieve. He was an inspiration to everyone. He is a hard worker. He definitely had a lot of love for the sport.”

As news of 38-year-old Nadal’s announcement spread, reactions from Hologic WTA Tour players flooded social media. Nadal served as a role model for many players, everyone marveled and praised him for his tireless competitive spirit, his mental strength and his humility.

Katie Boulter summed it up: “No, I/we reject this request for retirement.”

World number 7 Zheng Qinwen was shocked to see the news as she left the court after her comeback win over Leylah Fernandez to reach the quarter-finals in Wuhan.

“I’ve watched his game since I was a kid,” Zheng said. “There are a lot of memories. Even now, sometimes I look for Rafael Nadal and watch his old matches when he was 19, 20 when he is in his prime.”

“Of course he inspires me a lot. Even now, sometimes when I find myself in difficult moments, I think about how strong Rafael Nadal’s mentality is in tennis.”

From Ons Jabeur to Caroline Garcia, find more player reactions below: