The 23 ATP Tour stars who retired in 2024 including player Roger Federer loved

Rafael Nadal’s retirement from tennis was an emotional affair in Malaga after his exit from the Davis Cup on Tuesday. The 38-year-old bowed out in tears after losing in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp and his country lost 2-1 to the Netherlands overall.

Nadal follows the likes of Roger Federer in hanging up his racket after an illustrious career, leaving Novak Djokovic as the only remaining member of the Big Three.

Much like his 584-word letter to Nadal, Federer’s class shone through when he bid farewell to another talented player, Dominic Thiem, who played his final match at the Vienna Open.

“No matter the surface, you always found a way to beat me with your thunderous backhands,” the Swiss legend wrote in a post to his Instagram. “But more importantly, you did it with grace and sportsmanship.”

Thiem and Nadal weren’t the only players to step away from tennis in 2024, with 23 players on the ATP Tour leaving the court the final time in 2024.