Rory McIlroy has shared a heartfelt tribute to tennis legend Rafael Nadal following the Spaniard's retirement from professional tennis after Spain's Davis Cup quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands.

Nadal retires with an illustrious career spanning 23 years, including 22 Grand Slam titles (14 at the French Open), 92 ATP-level singles victories, and an Olympic gold medal. He stands as the second-most successful men's singles player in history, behind only Novak Djokovic.

McIlroy and Nadal share a close friendship, with the tennis icon being one of the first to message McIlroy after his US Open runner-up finish in June.

In his Instagram tribute, McIlroy wrote: "Rafa... From watching you win your first grand slam in 2005 to watching you win your last in 2022, you have been a hero of mine and an inspiration to how I approach my own career. You will be so missed and tennis won't be the same without you. Congratulations on one of the finest sporting careers of all time. See you on the course soon!"

While Nadal, a seven-handicap golfer, steps away from professional sport, McIlroy continues to excel in his career. He recently secured his sixth Race To Dubai title and remains focused on adding to his Major championships tally over the next decade.

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