ROGER FEDERER described playing against him as an "honour" and Cristiano Ronaldo told him he had "inspired millions".
When Rafa Nadal bowed yesterday to what had seemed inevitable for more than two years, there was no shortage of plaudits for a career that spanned 23 years and saw him collect 22 Grand Slam singles titles and Olympic gold.
His individual career is over and once he serves one last stint for Spain in next month's Davis Cup final on home soil - a tournament he has helped his country to win on four occasions - one of the game's greats will finally leave the stage.
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