Why Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic have 'never been friends' amid retirement announcement

Tennis ace Novak Djokovic once revealed that his intense rivalry with Rafael Nadal meant they could never be close friends.

Nadal, 38, confirmed his decision to retire from professional tennis in a social media post, citing his struggles with injuries over the past two years. He said: "Hello everyone. I'm here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don't think I have been able to play without limitations.

"It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But, in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it's the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined."

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Djokovic has previously spoke about his complicated relationship with Nadal, telling Italian publication Corriere Della Sera: "Nadal is only a year older than me, we are both Geminis, at first we even went to dinner together, twice. But even with him, friendship is impossible."

Despite this, Djokovic expressed his admiration and respect for Nadal, saying: "I have always respected and greatly admired him. Thanks to him and Federer, I grew up and became who I am.

"This will unite us forever; therefore I feel gratitude towards them. Nadal is a part of my life, in the last fifteen years I've seen more of him than my mum!

"We have never been friends. Between rivals, it is not possible, but we have never been enemies."

Djokovic has also openly