Roger Federer's former coach Paul Annacone claimed that sports has never had a greater competitor than the retired Rafael Nadal.

Spain’s Davis Cup captain, David Ferrer, has described Rafael Nadal’s farewell ceremony after his final match as “a bit sad” and “watered down.” In a candid interview, Ferrer highlighted the absence of “very important people” who had played key roles in Nadal’s illustrious career,

Rafael Nadal's tennis career is now over, but Roger Federer and many others have been called out for not being there for the Spaniard's final match

The 37-year-old from Belgrade will be one of the favorites at the next Australian Open, for which he will prepare with great dedication by also playing a tournament in the first week of January. Nole's focus will be totally directed towards the Grand Slam tournaments and the Davis Cup, to try to replicate the historic triumph obtained in 2011.

Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga are the only four tennis stars to have achieved that remarkable feat. Nadal, Djokovic and Federer – the Big Three – are widely regarded as being among the greatest tennis players of all time and dominated the sport for two decades.

Rafael Nadal has issued an eight-word reply to the classy tribute he received from his great rival Novak Djokovic following his retirement. The legendary Spaniard was beaten by Botic van de Zandschulp in the final match of his remarkable career at the Davis Cup Final 8 stage this week.

The who's who of the tennis world was expected to attend Rafael Nadal's Davis Cup farewell in Malaga, but they were nowhere to be seen when the tennis great played his final match.