Coco Gauff Joins in Roger Federer’s Footsteps to Pay Special Homage to Rafael Nadal’s Final Dance at the Davis Cup

 

After losing his singles match to the Dutchman, Botic van de Zandschulp at the Davis Cup, Rafael Nadal said, “I lost my first match in the Davis Cup and I lost my last one. So we close the circle.” Perhaps that’s not the way he’d wanted to bring an end to his illustrious career, but it’s what it is. With a heavy heart, the tennis world has now started to express their emotions on Rafael Nadal’s retirement. Previously, we saw Roger Federer paying tribute to his long-time rival by putting his ‘RF’ sign in Spanish flag colors. Now, American star, Coco Gauff is spotted taking a similar route while paying tribute to the Spanish legend.

In his heartfelt note where he paid tribute to Rafael Nadal, the Swiss Maestro spoke about a lot of things. He started his note by admitting, “You (Rafa) challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought.” Federer highlighted all the superstitions that he had seen with Rafael Nadal over the years. Then he went on to add, “Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.” He also spoke about some of the memorable moments from their careers and concluded the long note by stating, “I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you.

We saw American tennis legend, Serena Williams commenting on Roger Federer’s post on X. She wrote, “Well said 🥹🥹“, but what did the American tennis star, Coco Gauff write while paying tribute to Rafael Nadal? Well, Gauff kept it simple, yet meaningful! She came up with a tweet claiming, “today, I am from spain 🇪🇸 #rafa.” How fascinating is it to see Rafael Nadal painting the whole world in the iconic red and yellow colors to mark the end of his remarkable 23-year-long journey!

However, this isn’t the first time that, Coco Gauff has showcased her admiration for Rafael Nadal! When Nadal announced his retirement in October this year, Gauff said, “He is my favorite person to watch practice honestly. The intensity that he brought on the practice court and obviously on the match court is something that I felt like watching is unmatched. Watching the video, a bit emotional because Rafa is all I’ve known growing up. Pretty sure he’s won Roland Garros for, like, the majority of my life.”

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Once she had also shared a story about how Rafael Nadal always made time for her. Be it by congratulating her on her successes or trading pins during a late-night shuttle ride at the Paris Olympics, Nadal always managed to bring a smile to her face. Reflecting more on getting the pin from Nadal, Coco Gauff said, “Yeah, just something like that I’ll remember. And something I’ll definitely tell my kids because it meant a lot to me.” Now, the question: Can Coco Gauff carry forward the legacy of Rafael Nadal in the tennis world?

Coco Gauff shares her thoughts on following the footsteps of Rafael Nadal

Talking about creating a legacy, the first question that comes to our mind is how Rafael Nadal wants himself to be remembered by everyone. Recently, during his on-court farewell speech, Nadal revealed that he’d like to be remembered as a “kid who followed their dreams.” He hopes to be remembered as a “good person” more than just a player.

He further added, “I have peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one.” He admitted that he understands the love that he has received over the years. According to him, if it was just for what he did on the court, then it wouldn’t have been the same. He spoke about leaving behind a legacy. Now the question is who will carry forward it in the racquet sport?

Well, according to Coco Gauff‘s recent statement on Rafael Nadal, “It’s one thing to have the on-court achievements, but I think [about] how you treat people off the court, how you treat people, fans. Obviously, I’m a fan of him. I know we’re technically like coworkers, but I’m a fan. How he treated me as a fan is something I remember more than his wins, more than the things he did. I would like my legacy to look like that.”

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She explained that one can win numerous trophies but people will still remember who you are and how you made them feel. That’s how she wants to carry forward his legacy by leaving a nice impression on everyone she interacts with. Share your thoughts on Rafael Nadal’s eno

rmous impact on the tennis world.