Andy Murray reveals why Rafael Nadal would lose his rag away from tennis as he pays classy retirement tribute
Andy Murray has paid a classy tribute to good friend Rafael Nadal following the Spanish icon's retirement - but has teased his former tennis rival for losing his cool whenever he lost a game of Pro Evolution Soccer to the Scot on the Playstation.
Nadal, 38, finally called it quits on his illustrious career following Spain's defeat to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup, leaving Novak Djokovic as the only one of the famous "Big Tour" tennis stars still playing, following on from long-time rival Roger Federer's retirement in 2022 and Murray's swansong at the Olympics last summer.
Tributes for the Mallorca star - who won a remarkable 22 Grand Slam titles between 2005 and 2002 - have poured in from all corners of the sporting world and beyond. And Murray, who first met Nadal when he moved to Barcelona as a teenager to join the Sanchez-Casal Academy, revealed a hilarious story that showed just how competitive the Real Madrid supporter was off the court as well as on it.
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In a video shared by the Davis Cup X account, three-time Grand Slam winner and double Olympic gold medallist Murray said: "Hi Rafa, just wanted to send you a quick message to congratulate you on the most incredible career. I’ve always been a huge fan of yours and it has been incredible to watch you, to practise with you, and get the chance to compete against you for all these years since we first met as 13 and 14-year-old kids.
"The passion and intensity you played with, not just on the match court, but on the practise court was something I think all tennis players aspire to and what all tennis fans will remember you for. We’ve also learned so much from you over the years about humility, hard work, and respect for everybody.
"You are probably the only tennis player ever to have never thrown a racket in anger, which is incredible. However, this wasn’t the case when you would lose at PlayStation.
"I’ve seen Rafa throwing PlayStation controllers around hotel rooms all over the world when he and his close friend Juan Monaco would lose a late goal to me with his beloved Real Madrid at Pro Evolution Soccer.
"Anyway, I’m sure your body is looking forward to a well earned rest. Enjoy retirement, mate."
