Rafael Nadal celebrates winning a point during his second-round match at the Australian Open
Rafael Nadal congratulated Caroline Wozniacki on an amazing career after the latter decided to retire following her third-round loss at the Australian Open.
“Everybody wants to keep watching you play tennis but of course you deserve to rest. You have had an amazing career and I just want to congratulate you on all the things that you achieved and hope to get to see you around,” the World No.1 said.
Wozniacki suffered an upset 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 loss at the hands of Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur at the Melbourne Arena, ultimately deciding to call it quits after a 15-year professional tennis career.
Ranked 36th currently, Wozniacki had made her intention to retire public in November and has one Grand Slam title to her kitty.
A former world number one, Wozniacki was at the helm for 71 weeks and has 30 WTA titles to her credit.
“It has been a great ride,” said the emotional Dane on Melbourne Arena. “It is fitting my last match would be a three-setter, a grinder, and I’d finish my career with a forehand error – those are the things I have been working on my whole career,” joked Wozniacki.
Meanwhile, Nadal has had a comfortable outing so far at the year’s first major Grand Slam tournament, which he has won only once in his career.
Nadal has 19 Grand Slams to his name and will be looking to add a second Australian Open this time around.
The Spaniard overcame Argentine Federico Delbonis 6-3, 7-6 (4) 6-1 in the second round and will next face countryman Pablo Carreno Busta, who is seeded 27th.
Earlier, the Spaniard went past Bolivian Hugo Dellien with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 win in the first round to start off proceedings in style.
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