ADIOS AMIGO

After 22 Grand Slam titles in 23 years, Rafa Nadal, one of tennis' all-time greats, has finally reached break point and is packing his bags and saying farewell

- ANDY SIMS

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, 22 Grand Slam singles titles, and Olympic gold.

His individual career is over and once he serves one last stint for Spain in the final of the Davis Cup - a tournament he has helped his country to win on four occasions on home soil next month, one of the game's greats will finally leave the stage.

Nadal, who was the darling of Centre Court when he lifted two Wimbledon titles, was most famously the king of clay, winning an incredible 14 French Open singles titles.

Like his contemporary, Andy Murray, Nadal has tried to win a long battle with injuries, believing one more triumph was always round the corner. But he explained yesterday why it's time to call it quits.