‘A champion’s champion’: Nadal and other tennis stars react to Roger Federer retirement

The tributes poured in quickly on Thursday when Roger Federer announced his retirement from tennis after a career than lasted more than two decades and brought him 103 singles titles.

Federer’s rivalry with Rafael Nadal has been a defining part of tennis this century, and the Spaniard expressed his regret they will not meet again in a grand slam final.

Dear Roger,my friend and rival. I wish this day would have never come. It’s a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world.It’s been a pleasure but also an honor and privilege to share all these years with you, living so many amazing moments on and off the court