Jannik Sinner clinched the ATP Year-End number one ranking following his straight-sets semi-final win against Tomas Machac at the Shanghai Masters.
Sinner needed an hour and 43 minutes to down his Czech opponent, winning 6-4 7-5 to set up a meeting with either Novak Djokovic or Taylor Fritz in the final.
The Italian, however, started slowly in the first set, losing the first two games, but recovered well as the pair traded blows in a tightly contested affair.
But a service break in the 10th game proved decisive, with Sinner taking the early advantage in a set that saw him serve four of his nine aces against the Czech.
But Machac refused to back down, going toe-to-toe with the world number one, producing some huge baseline hitting that the Italian struggled to respond to.
However, after a love game to level the encounter at 6-6, Sinner closed out the contest in the tie-break, sealing his 64th win of the season to reach his maiden final at the competition as he continues to chase a Tour-leading seventh title of the year.
Data Debrief: Sinner on top of the world
Sinner (2023-24) has become only the third player in the Open Era to reach seven or more ATP event finals on hard court in consecutive seasons after Roger Federer (2004-07 and 2014-2015) and Novak Djokovic (2011-13 and 2015-2016).
The Italian is now 27-3 at ATP Masters 1000 events in 2024. Since the format’s inception in 1990, only Federer, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have achieved more wins in a season.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto and four relievers combined on a two-hitter and Kike Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers secured a trip to the National League Championship Series with a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
Yamamoto allowed two hits over five innings for the Dodgers before being pulled after 63 pitches in a decisive Game 5 between heated rivals who were meeting in an NL Division Series for the third time in five years.
Evan Phillips struck out three in 1 2/3 innings and Alex Vesia got one out before leaving with an injury to start the eighth. Michael Kopech worked one perfect inning and Blake Treinen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save.
The Dodgers will play the New York Mets in the best-of-seven NLCS starting Sunday night in Los Angeles.
Yu Darvish allowed the two home runs and one other hit over six innings with one walk and four strikeouts.
The Dodgers won a decisive Game 5 at home for the first time since taking a 1981 NL Division Series against Houston after a season split into halves following a players' strike. Boasting the majors’ best regular-season record of 98-64, they successfully avoided a third straight NLDS elimination.
The Padres’ big hitters went bust with their season on the line. Three-time batting champion Luis Arraez, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jurickson Profar and Manny Machado were 1 for 14 in Game 5 as the last 19 San Diego batters were retired.
San Diego went scoreless for the final 24 innings of the series, dropping the last two games after taking a 2-1 lead back home.
Yamamoto and Darvish were the first Japanese-born starting pitchers to square off in major league playoff history. The 26-year-old Yamamoto was the fifth rookie to start a winner-take-all game in Dodgers history.
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has said the FIA was wrong to punish Formula One world champion Max Verstappen for swearing.
The Red Bull driver, who won his third world championship title last year, was asked to do community service by the motorsport’s governing body for swearing in a news conference during last month’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Verstappen then protested against the punishment by giving short answers during an official news conference and termed the penalty "ridiculous", going on to say that such decisions could speed up his exit from the sport.
Now, the former Haas boss has weighed in, saying that the FIA should not have “made a big story out of it.”
“Max didn't swear at anybody. He used the f-word about his car. So nobody got offended by it, in my opinion,” said Steiner, who departed Haas at the start of the year.
"The best way [to handle it] would have been not to make a big story of it. Sit down with the drivers, they have a meeting every weekend, and say: 'Hey, guys, can you tone it down a little bit? We are the FIA, we don't really like this.'
"But don't say: 'If you do, you get a fine, a penalty, whatever.' Because you know these guys, they've got an ego as well. And they say: 'I don't want to do that.' And then what do you create? All this controversy - for nothing."
Novak Djokovic said a part of him had "left" after Rafael Nadal followed his other great rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray in announcing his retirement.
Djokovic enjoyed a long-lasting rivalry with Nadal, along with Federer and Murray, with tennis' 'Big Four' winning a combined 69 grand slam titles.
The Serbian is currently aiming to join Federer and Jimmy Connors as the only players to achieve 100 ATP Tour-level titles, and is two games away from doing so at the Shanghai Masters.
Djokovic overcame a plucky display from Czech teenager Jakub Mensik on Friday, coming from a set down to win 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-4 and progress to a record 77th semi-final at Masters 1000 events.
The triumph came a day after Nadal confirmed he would retire next month, following 60 head-to-head meetings with Djokovic, the latest coming at the Paris Olympics earlier this year.
Djokovic won 31 of those encounters, with four coming in grand slam finals at the US Open, Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
With Federer announcing his retirement in 2022 and Murray calling time on his career after the Olympics, Djokovic will soon be the only active player from the 'Big Four' that dominated the sport for many years.
And while the Serbian is still enjoying his tennis, he got emotional at the "overwhelming" feeling of being the last man standing.
"He has been my greatest rival and my rivalry with him has impacted me the most in my career by far," Djokovic said.
"We knew that moment is coming sooner than later but it's still a shock.
"When it came officially for Roger a few years ago as well, when he announced retirement and Andy as well this year. It's overwhelming for me to be honest.
"I don't know what to make of it. I still enjoy competing but part of me left with them. A big part of me. It's tough news for the tennis world, the sports world.
"Rafa is an inspiration to millions of children around the world so he can be very proud of his career."
Novak Djokovic said Jakub Mensik was one to watch after being forced to fight from a set down to beat the teenager in a dramatic Shanghai Masters quarter-final on Friday.
Djokovic prevailed 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-4 in two hours and 19 minutes to maintain his quest for a 100th ATP Tour-level title, advancing to a record 77th semi-final at Masters 1000 events.
Though he lost control in the second set, Mensik advanced his reputation as an elite server by registering 17 aces to Djokovic's seven throughout the course of the contest, with seven of those arriving in the opening set.
The Czech, ranked 65th, had defeated world number six Andrey Rublev and number nine Grigor Dimitrov en route to the last eight, and Djokovic was impressed by the fight he put up.
"We went toe-to-toe until the last moment," Djokovic said. "I was fortunate to find great serves in the last game, a couple of aces, that helps.
"I didn't serve that well at the end of the first set when I was serving for it. He managed to turn things around by playing a good tie-break."
Asked about Mensik's potential, Djokovic said: "I could see today why he is one of the best servers we have in the game.
"He is only 19, the future is very bright for him. He knows that I am always there for him, whatever he needs.
"Jakub is somebody that I have been following for the last three or four years, ever since he played the junior finals of the Australian Open.
"We like playing each other, we raise the level when we face each other. We've played a lot of practice sets and it's always fun."
Djokovic will now face Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals on Saturday, with a spot in Sunday's final – against Jannik Sinner or Tomas Machac – on the line.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner hailed the team for standing tall on the road after they held off a Seattle Seahawks fightback for a crucial 36-24 win.
The Niners were in dire need of a victory after blowing double-digit fourth-quarter leads in losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals in Weeks 3 and 5.
They made a strong start to Thursday's meeting between two NFC West rivals, assuming a 23-3 lead early in the third quarter, as Brock Purdy threw a 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown to Deebo Samuel and another score to George Kittle.
However, the defending NFC champions let Seattle back in and saw their lead trimmed to six points by the start of the fourth, with the Seahawks reeling off 14 straight points then getting the ball back via a Rasheem Green interception.
However, they held firm and another two touchdowns – a second Purdy-Kittle link-up and a six-yard Kyle Juszczyk rush – ensured they improved to 3-3, level with Seattle.
Asked if doubts began to creep in as the Niners' lead shrunk, three-time All-Pro Warner said: "A thousand percent.
"It sucks, but yes, it was something that felt familiar for sure. We could go one of two ways right there.
"We could stand tall in a hostile environment and get the game that we got to get or we could settle for exactly how we've been playing the last couple losses."
The 49ers' season has seen them hampered by injuries to the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Dre Greenlaw and Javon Hargrave, and head coach Kyle Shanahan was handed another headache on Thursday as running back Jordan Mason was forced off with a shoulder issue.
Asked for an update on Mason's condition after the game, Shanahan said: "He thought he was going to be alright.
"He went back in, and it just hurt him too much, so he went out. We'll find out more tomorrow."
San Francisco's victory came at a crucial time as they are involved in the matchup of the season so far in Week 7, when they face the Kansas City Chiefs in a repeat of February's Super Bowl LVIII clash.
Offensive tackle Trent Williams said of that game: "It's not like we can get payback for losing in the Super Bowl. That ship has sailed.
"Obviously, we know what type of team that is, one of the best teams in the league... All-Star quarterback, great coach.
"We're going to take these three days off and regroup and try to put a complete game together."
World number seven Zheng Qinwen will face Wang Xinyu in the first all-Chinese semi-final at a WTA 1000 event on Saturday, following the duo's quarter-final victories on Friday.
Zheng overcame Wimbledon and French Open runner-up Jasmine Paolini 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the last eight of the Wuhan Open, teasing several errors out of the Italian in the deciding set of a big-hitting encounter.
She has now won more matches since the end of Wimbledon (23) than any other player on the WTA Tour, and her next opponent will be compatriot Wang.
Wang came through a gruelling encounter with Ekaterina Alexandrova earlier on Friday, saving two match points en route to a 4-6 6-4 7-6 (8-6) victory.
Making her first WTA 1000 semi-final, the world number 51 is the second-lowest ranked player to ever reach that stage in Wuhan.
The winner of Saturday's tie will take on either Aryna Sabalenka or Coco Gauff in the final, with both players bidding to become the first Chinese player to go all the way at the tournament.
Data Debrief: Rare home contest in the offing
Since the inception of WTA 1000 events in 2009, only two local pairs have met in a semi-final match in the format, ahead of Zheng and Wang becoming the third this weekend.
Serena and Venus Williams faced off in Miami in 2009, while Madison Keys and Sofia Kenin battled it out in the final four of the 2019 Cincinnati Open.
Klay Thompson admitted to getting butterflies ahead of making his Dallas Mavericks debut on Thursday, before predicting his stint with the team will be "special".
Thompson was at the centre of the Golden State Warriors' dynasty before leaving the franchise in July, winning four NBA championships in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.
Having been drafted 11th overall in 2011, Thompson left the Warriors as the player with the fourth-most games played in team history (793) and the sixth-most points (15,531).
He penned a three-year, $50million deal with the Mavs ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, and his first preseason appearance for the team came in a 107-102 loss to the Utah Jazz.
Thompson scored 10 points in 18 first-half minutes at American Airlines Center, before revealing his pre-game nerves were the worst he had experienced since his first trip to the NBA Finals.
"I haven't been that nervous, I don't think, since the 2015 Finals Game 1," Thompson said after the game.
"It felt so good just to go out there and play and work those jitters out.
"It was a new experience, and it's a natural feeling when you've been somewhere so long and to be somewhere new in a new environment.
"To finally put the uniform on, it felt amazing. I'm just excited to experience a new chapter. It's going to be special. I just know it."
Dallas' next preseason game sees them face the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, before they take on the Milwaukee Bucks in their final run-out before the new campaign.
Novak Djokovic continued on his quest for a 100th ATP Tour level title by edging out Jakub Mensik in a thrilling quarter-final encounter at the Shanghai Masters.
Djokovic had to come from a set down to claim the triumph, eventually prevailing 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-4 in two hours and 19 minutes against his Czech opponent.
The pair settled into the contest quickly, trading blows throughout as Mensik served up seven of his 17 aces in the first set, with a tie-break deciding who would go in front.
Despite taking a three-point lead, Djokovic found himself behind heading into the second set after a valiant comeback from the 19-year-old.
But the Serbian responded emphatically, finding a break of serve in the second game before hammering home his advantage, taking the encounter the distance.
Djokovic was again able to find an early break in the decider, with Mensik able to prolong the inevitable in the ninth game having squandered three opportunities for game point.
However, the world number four sealed the win in style, serving up a love game to set up a tie with Taylor Fritz in the final four after the American's win over David Goffin.
Data Debrief: Djokovic closing in on landmark victory
One of only three to reach 50 or more semi-finals along with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Djokovic has now reached his 78th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final - the most of any player since the format’s inception in 1990.
Including the Beijing Olympics, Djokovic remains undefeated in China against opponents ranked outside the ATP's top 20, moving to a record of 42-0 with his victory over Mensik.
Aryna Sabalenka continued her Wuhan Open dominance as she reached her third consecutive semi-final at the competition with a straight sets victory over Magdalena Frech.
Sabalenka needed just over an hour to down her Polish opponent, emerging a 6-2 6-2 victor in a largely one-sided contest.
The Belarusian laid down a marker of her intentions early on, serving a love game in the opener before quickly racing into a 4-0 lead.
Frech would get her first point on the board in the fifth game, but the damage had been done in the opening exchanges as Sabalenka saw out her serve to take the advantage.
The world number two threatened to end the contest in double quick time after she claimed a 3-0 lead in the second set, only for Frech to respond and close to within one game.
However, Sabalenka held firm to secure the win, sealing the triumph with her third match point as she extended her winning streak to 15 matches in Wuhan.
Sabalenka will now face Coco Gauff for a place in the final in what will be the pair's first encounter since the Belarusian's semi-final win at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Data Debrief: Sabalenka continues Wuhan love story
Sabalenka is only the second player after Ashleigh Barty to reach the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open in all their first three appearances at this tournament.
Only Serena Williams (21 in Rome, 20 in Miami and 19 in Madrid) has won more consecutive matches in a single city hosting a WTA-1000 event than Sabalenka in Wuhan (15) since the format’s introduction in 2009.
Coco Gauff recorded her 50th WTA Tour-level win of the season as the American stormed into the semi-final of the Wuhan Open.
Poland's Magda Linette was no match for Gauff on Friday, as the world number four won 6-0 6-4.
Gauff was in top form throughout the contest, as she saved all five break points she faced and completed the victory in under 90 minutes.
"I'm really happy with how I played," Gauff said.
"Obviously a smooth first set. Had chances to maybe close it out in the 5-3 game in the second, but happy I was able to close it out on my serve."
Data Debrief: Home away from home
Among current players to have played more than 10 WTA matches in a single country, only Iga Swiatek in France (94.6%), Caroline Wozniacki in Denmark and Simona Halep in Romania (93.3% each) have a higher winning percentage than Gauff in China (92.9%).
Gauff is the second-youngest player to make the semi-final of the Wuhan Open and China Open during the same season, after Jelena Ostapenko in 2017.
She also became the third player to claim 50+ WTA main draw wins in 2024, after Swiatek and Sabalenka. They are the first trio to secure this milestone for consecutive seasons since 2008-2009.
Brock Purdy threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns, and the San Francisco 49ers never trailed in a 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
Deebo Samuel had a 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown and finished with three catches for 102 yards for the defending NFC champions (3-3), who moved into a tie with Seattle (3-3) for first place in the NFC West after an uneven start to the season.
George Kittle added five receptions for 58 yards and two scores for the 49ers, who beat the Seahawks for a sixth straight time. Kyle Juszczyk added a late TD run for the 49ers, and he and Kittle both celebrated their scores by leaping into the stands to embrace their wives, who were sitting together in the first row.
Matthew Wright, who joined San Francisco earlier this week to replace injured kicker Jake Moody, had a trio of first-half-field goals from 25, 41 and 35 yards.
Geno Smith passed for 312 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice, and the Seahawks lost their third straight after a 3-0 start under new coach Mike Macdonald.
Brock Purdy threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns, and the San Francisco 49ers never trailed in a 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
Deebo Samuel had a 76-yard catch-and-run touchdown and finished with three catches for 102 yards for the defending NFC champions (3-3), who moved into a tie with Seattle (3-3) for first place in the NFC West after an uneven start to the season.
George Kittle added five receptions for 58 yards and two scores for the 49ers, who beat the Seahawks for a sixth straight time. Kyle Juszczyk added a late TD run for the 49ers, and he and Kittle both celebrated their scores by leaping into the stands to embrace their wives, who were sitting together in the first row.
Matthew Wright, who joined San Francisco earlier this week to replace injured kicker Jake Moody, had a trio of first half-field goals from 25, 41 and 35 yards.
Geno Smith passed for 312 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice, and the Seahawks lost their third straight after a 3-0 start under new coach Mike Macdonald.
Gerrit Cole pitched like a postseason ace Thursday night, holding the Kansas City Royals to a single run over seven innings and sending the New York Yankees to a 3-1 victory that put them back in the American League Championship Series.
The six-time All-Star scattered six hits and struck out four before handing the ball to the New York bullpen, which dominated a tense AL Division Series. Clay Holmes tossed a perfect eighth inning and Luke Weaver breezed through the ninth, extending the scoreless streak by Yankees relievers to 15 2/3 innings this postseason.
New York will play Cleveland or Detroit of the ALCS starting Monday night at Yankee Stadium.
Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres and Game 3 star Giancarlo Stanton drove in runs for the Yankees, who fittingly clinched a spot in their fourth ALCS in eight years on the road. They won 50 games away from home in the regular season, their most in 21 years.
Michael Wacha failed to get through five innings for Kansas City, allowing two runs, six hits and a walk. He didn't get much help from a long-scuffling offence that managed just five runs total over the final three games of the series.
New York set the tone from the start, pouncing on Wacha like it did in the series opener. Torres hit the veteran right-hander's first pitch of the game for a double, and Soto followed with an RBI single on just the third pitch of the night.
Anthony Volpe kept on the pressure with his single in the fifth. And after Alex Verdugo grounded into a forceout and Jon Berti singled to put runners on the corners, Torres lined a two-out single to make it 2-0 and put an end to Wacha's night.
Stanton, who hit the go-ahead homer in the eighth inning in Game 3, extended the lead to 3-0 with his single in the sixth.
Guardians edge Tigers to stay alive
Pinch-hitter David Fry hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, then bunted home an insurance run in the ninth to help the Cleveland Guardians force a decisive Game 5 against the Detroit Tigers in their AL Division Series with a 5-4 victory.
Cleveland ended a streak of 11 losses in postseason elimination games dating to Game 6 of the 1997 World Series.
Game 5 is Saturday in Cleveland, with ace Tarik Skubal set to start for the Tigers. The winner advances to the ALCS against the New York Yankees starting Monday.
On the verge of reaching the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2013, the Tigers overcame a 2-1 deficit when Zach McKinstry homered in the fifth and Wenceel Pérez hit a run-scoring single in the sixth.
Beau Brieske had pitched scoreless ball for 5 1/3 innings over four postseason appearances before Fry, batting for Kyle Manzardo, drove a fastball off an advertising sign between the two bullpens in left for the second pinch-homer in Cleveland postseason history after Hank Majeski in Game 4 of the 1954 World Series.
Emmanuel Clase retired five batters, preserving a 4-3 lead in the eighth when he escaped a second-and-third jam by striking out Trey Sweeney.
Fry’s bunt brought home Brayan Rocchio in the ninth to boost the lead, which proved important. Detroit pulled within a run in the bottom half when pinch-hitter Justyn-Henry Malloy doubled, advanced on a groundout and scored on Jace Jung’s groundout.
Sweeney hit a sacrifice fly in the second and José Ramírez put Cleveland ahead with a fifth-inning homer off Tyler Holton.
Maureen Brown is preparing for her biggest role yet in the realm of netball, as she steps into her first major assignment as team manager for Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls at the upcoming Fast5 Netball World Series in New Zealand.
Despite managing a relatively inexperienced squad on a high-profile stage, Brown, exuding confidence, stands ready to take on the challenge, with a clear objective—ensure everything off the court runs seamlessly so her players can perform at their best on the court at the November 9-10 tournament.
In fact, Brown views this debut managerial role as more than just a professional milestone. For her, it’s an opportunity to contribute to a sport that she has long been passionate about.
“This is a big deal for me. I knew that based on my performance and the responses of players from various elite teams, this opportunity might have been a possibility. I have been around Netball for years, and I pride myself on not just working with people but to serve as a mentor to them. So it's an honour to be in this role, and I believe my experience and background in the sport will go a long way in terms of how I handle things on this assignment,” Brown told SportsMax.Tv.
“But the most important thing for me is to help keep the players happy and motivated. I am always a people person, so it is a perfect fit for me to bring my people skills into the programme and provide that extra bit of help and encouragement when needed. As you know, each player has a different personality, so the approach has to be different should it be a case where they didn’t have a good game or things like that,” she added.
While her journey to this position has been filled with learning curves and evolving responsibilities, Brown, who also manages reigning Elite League champions Manchester Spurs, sees the Fast5 opportunity as a prime chance to gain experience about managing a team on the global stage as she continues to hone in skills in the position.
“It's a learning process for me in terms of how to prepare a team for international games. Along with the help of others, I also read up on the things I need to do and how to approach them. My work ethic is unquestionable, so I’m focused on making sure the girls have everything they need so they can go out there and just play their hearts out,” Brown shared.
Brown’s pragmatic yet optimistic approach is rooted in her belief that effective management is about creating an environment where athletes can focus solely on their performance. From logistics and team morale to addressing individual concerns, her role encompasses a range of responsibilities designed to provide the necessary support to the youthful Sunshine has been assembled Girls unit.
Maureen Brown (left) shares a photo opportunity with her Manchester Spurs team.
Like Brown, numerous players in the Fast5 team, which departs Jamaica on November 1, will be making a national debut, as the more senior and experienced players are focused on a four-match Test series against England Roses, also set for November.
“Once we hit New Zealand, my job is to handle the details so the players can handle the game. It’s not just about the physical preparation but making sure they’re mentally and emotionally in a good place,” Brown explained.
“The love and respect that I get from all the players, even from the more senior players in the Test series squad, serve as added motivation for me. Sometimes when they call at night, I just provide a listening ear and feedback, so the fact that they look up to me in such a way makes my job easier,” she noted.
Though the fast-paced action and intense competition will prove daunting, Brown is confident that her team, despite their relative inexperience, has the potential to surprise the competition.
She believes the tournament provides an excellent platform for the younger players to gain international experience and to showcase their talents.
“Because many netball enthusiasts would not have seen the other talents we have in Jamaica, we decided to give these players the opportunity to showcase their skills, and we are confident that they can deliver under pressure.
“They are working extra hard on sharpening their skills, and I know once they get those nerves out the way, they will shine. So, I genuinely fancy our chances based on the growth and confidence that I see in our players every day. I know they’re ready to give it their all,” Brown declared.
That said, Brown, an employee at Jamaica Observer, pointed out that her commitment to the Sunshine Girls and, by extension, to netball goes beyond this tournament.
As someone who has witnessed the highs and lows of Jamaican netball, she’s determined to make a meaningful impact, not just as a manager, but as an advocate for the sport’s growth at all levels.
“I want to help build and develop the sport in Jamaica, and one way to achieve that is to share my experience and motivate others,” Brown said earnestly.
“Jamaica has always been a force in netball, and I want to see us get to a place where we’re consistently competitive even after the more established players call time on their careers. It starts with developing our younger players, giving them the exposure they need, and ensuring we have the right infrastructure and support systems in place,” she ended.
Novak Djokovic believes Rafael Nadal's "legacy will live forever" as the 24-time major winner paid tribute to his great rival.
Nadal announced on Thursday via a video on his social media platforms that he will retire from competitive tennis following next month's Davis Cup finals in Malaga.
It brings the curtain down on a glittering career in which he won 22 grand slams, including a record 14 French Open singles triumphs.
His major tally was then a record, but has since been surpassed by Djokovic, against whom he contested what many believe to be tennis' greatest rivalry.
The pair faced off 60 times, including nine times in slam finals, with the Serb boasting a narrowly superior 31-29 record, while he prevailed in their final clash at the Paris Olympics.
And Djokovic has followed suit in paying tribute to the Spaniard, who was dubbed "the King of Clay" for his exploits at Roland-Garros.
"Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport," he wrote on his social media platforms.
"You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis, and I think that's probably the greatest achievement anyone can wish for.
"Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit are going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever. Only you know what you had to endure to become an icon of tennis and sport in general.
"Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry, which has impacted me the most as a player.
"Your passion for representing Spain has always been remarkable. I wish you the best possible farewell in Malaga with the Davis Cup team of Spain. I will be there in person to pay respect to your stellar career."
Aryna Sabalenka paid tribute to "legend" Rafael Nadal, acknowledging the retiring Spaniard is "an inspiration to all of us".
The 22-time major winner announced on Thursday via a video on his social media platforms that he will retire from competitive tennis following next month's Davis Cup finals in Malaga.
Nadal's decision - generally expected given his injury struggles in recent years - has been met with widespread tributes throughout the tennis and sporting world.
And WTA number two Sabalenka - the reigning Australian and US Open champion - was the latest big name to salute the 14-time French Open winner, who was dubbed "the King of Clay".
"He's an inspiration for all of us, for the next generation, for current players. He's a legend," Sabalenka told WTA.
"As he said, everything has a beginning and an end. We are all going to be there. I'm really happy for what he was able to achieve. He was inspiration for everyone. He's a hard worker. He definitely had so much love for this sport."
Sabalenka is through to her 11th successive WTA quarter-final at the Wuhan Open after coming from behind to beat Yulia Putintseva 1-6 6-4 6-0.
The reigning champion recovered from losing the opening set - plus a break point at 4-3 down in the second set - to claim his 14th straight victory in Wuhan.
"In the first set, I was all over the place," she added. "I'm really glad that I was able to put myself together in the second set and things clicked.
"In that game [the eighth in the second set], I was just trying to cool myself down and just to remind myself to keep trying, keep fighting.
"You have to work for it, you have to run, you have to play the point, build the point, find the right shot, then go for it, not rush things. I was just having that conversation in my head all the time.
"After that game, I felt like something clicked. The return was better. The movement was better. The decisions I was making were much better. I felt like that was really the turning point in the match."
Cristiano Ronaldo has hailed Rafael Nadal as an "incredible" inspiration to millions around the world after the King of Clay announced he will retire from tennis next month.
Having struggled with injuries throughout the last couple of years, 22-time grand slam champion Nadal confirmed 2024 will be his final year on the ATP Tour on Thursday.
Nadal will call time on his glittering career after November's Davis Cup finals in Malaga, where he will feature for a Spain team also containing four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Only Margaret Court, Novak Djokovic (24 each) and Serena Williams (23) have won more grand slam singles titles than Nadal in tennis history (22), with his 14 triumphs at the French Open a record for titles won at a single major.
He posted a video explaining his decision to bow out to his social media channels on Thursday, saying he had been playing with "limitations" for the last two years.
Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo was among the first to react to the news, commenting on Nadal's Instagram post: "Rafa, what an incredible race you've had!
"Your dedication, passion and incredible talent have inspired millions around the world.
"It has been an honour to witness your journey and to be able to call you a friend. Congrats on an amazing career! Enjoy your retirement!"
Carlos Alcaraz found it difficult to accept the news of Rafael Nadal's impending retirement, saying the 22-time grand slam winner inspired him to turn professional.
On Thursday, Nadal confirmed next month's Davis Cup finals will be the final event of his glittering career, having struggled with injuries throughout a difficult few years.
Plenty of comparisons have been drawn between Alcaraz's stunning emergence and that enjoyed by Nadal at the start of his own career.
Alcaraz won his first grand slam title as a 19-year-old at the 2022 US Open and has since gone on to claim three further major crowns. Nadal, meanwhile, is the only man in the Open Era to win multiple grand slams both before the age of 20 and after turning 30.
The pair teamed up to play doubles at the Paris Olympic Games earlier this year, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to eventual silver medallists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.
Speaking after he suffered a surprise defeat to Tomas Machac at the Shanghai Masters on Thursday, Alcaraz appeared to still be digesting the news of Nadal's retirement.
Asked about the video Nadal posted to social media announcing his decision, Alcaraz said: "When I watched it, it was tough to accept it.
"I was in shock a little bit. I saw it like one hour before the match, so I had time to accept it and forget it a little bit before the match.
"It is a really difficult thing, really difficult news for everybody, and even tougher for me. He has been my idol since I start playing tennis. I look up to him.
"Thanks to him, I really wanted to become a tennis player. Losing him, in a certain way, is going to be difficult for us, so I will try to enjoy as much as I can when he's going to play.
"But we are going to play in Saudi Arabia, and then the Davis Cup, so I'm going to try to enjoy the time with him as much as I can, but, yeah, it is a shame for tennis and for me."
Nadal spent much of his career competing with fellow legends Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, with the sport's 'Big Three' winning 66 grand slam singles titles between them.
World number one Jannik Sinner, speaking after his win over Daniil Medvedev in Shanghai, said tennis' current crop of contenders should not be placed under pressure to replicate the achievements of that trio.
"We cannot compare us with them, that's impossible... They have been very consistent for years... not only one or two seasons, they made it for 15 years," Sinner said.
"What they have done over the years has been amazing. There are not many things to say about pressure, the pressure is always going to be there.
"They have been very consistent throughout years and years and years. There are a lot of things what we can take from them.
"I think we all were very lucky to see the Big Three playing tennis. I consider myself very lucky to get to know them also as people and to learn from them."
Writing on X following Nadal's announcement, the Italian said: "Thank you Rafa for everything you have given to the sport.
"To have the chance to spend a few weeks training with you a few years ago is something I'll never forget. To watch you work as an athlete but also get to know you as a person off the court was even more special. You will be missed on the tour!"
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