Rafael Nadal: 'As a kid, Andy Murray was a little bit a bad boy'

commented on retirement from tennis. The Spaniard said: Of course is very bad news. But being honest, when somebody like him, that he achieved almost everything in his tennis career, is suffering like hes doing for such a long time already, and you feel that you are not competitive for the thing that really makes you wake up every morning and go on court with the passion to practice, to improve, and with a goal, then is so difficult, no? I cant say that because I didnt have that experience, but in some way I can speak about similarities that I had in my career, no? When you are going on court every day without the clear goal because you cannot move well, you have pain, then is a moment to take a decision.

Probably he is fighting to keep going since a long time. If he doesnt feel that the thing can go better, probably he does the right thing for his mental health. It will be a very important lose for us, for the world of tennis, for the tour, for the fans, even for the rivals that he have been part of a great rivalry between the best players for a long time, and a great competitor.

But thats life. Seems like he had not very long career because today players are playing that long. But hes 31. 10 years ago, if he retired at 31, we will say he had a great and very long career. Thats the real thing.

So all the best for him. We will miss him. But today is him. Tomorrow its another one. We are not 20 anymore. Our generation, everyone is more than 30s. These kind of things happen. Thats it. On his relationship with Murray, Nadal added: We shared competitions under 13, under 14.

Yeah, we know each other since a very long, long time ago, no? When he was a kid, he was a little bit a bad boy, smiled Nadal, hinting at Murray being nervous. Then, of course, you have evolution on your personality.

And yes, at the end of the day you appreciate a lot your rivals because you shared lot of important moments in our lives. I always had a good relationship with him. We shared moments in my academy. We shared moments playing some exhibitions all around the world.

We shared court in the most important stadiums in the world, competing for the most important things. Thats impossible to forget. ALSO READ: Djokovic would beat Roger Federer in Australian Open final – Evert