"I’ve had nightmares that have woke me up about Rafael Nadal" - Nick Kyrgios opens up on rivalry ahead of Spaniard's retirement

Nick Kyrgios expressed his deep emotions following Rafael Nadal’s announcement of retirement from professional tennis. Kyrgios, who has had a complex relationship with Nadal, candidly shared his thoughts, calling the Spaniard a “motivation” and confessing that he would miss the battles they shared on the court.

Nadal announced his retirement after a remarkable 23-year career. The Spaniard’s decision came after a challenging period marked by injuries and a valiant comeback attempt earlier this year.

"I'm here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, especially the last two. I don't think I have been able to play without difficulties," the Spaniard wrote.

"In this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it’s the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined," he added.

Kyrgios reacted to Nadal’s retirement announcement on X (formerly Twitter). The Aussie reflected on the nightmares he had about facing the Spaniard and the motivation the latter provided throughout his career.

"Damn. I’ve had nightmares that have woke me up about Rafa. I’m gonna miss them. This was someone that I used to prepare for, he was a motivation - I guess an inspiration. F**k - it’s true- people do bring the best out of you. You were one of those people, damn…" Kyrgios wrote.

Since his return in 2024, the 38-year-old participated in seven tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals in Brisbane and making it to the final in Bastad.

However, the former World No. 1 hasn't played since his appearance at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, where he was defeated by the eventual gold medalist Novak Djokovic in the singles second round and, alongside doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz, lost in the quarterfinals to eventual silver medalists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.

Rafael Nadal will retire after the Davis Cup Finals next month in Malaga, where he is part of Spain's team for the knockout stages. The Spanish team also includes Carlos Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut, Marcel Granollers, Pablo Carreno Busta, and captain David Ferrer.

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"We had our differences but you were one hell of a warrior" - Nick Kyrgios on Rafael Nadal's retirement

Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal at the 2020 Australian Open (Image source: Getty)

Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal have faced each other nine times on the ATP Tour, with the latter leading their head-to-head record 6-3. Their rivalry has been marked by intense matches and occasional controversies, including a notable incident at Wimbledon in 2019 when Kyrgios admitted to aiming a shot at the Spaniard’s chest.

Despite these clashes, Kyrgios has always acknowledged Nadal’s greatness and the inspiration he provided. In separate posts, the Aussie urged the Spaniard to delay his retirement, expressing a desire for them to have one final showdown on the court.

"Rafa don’t retire I wanna play you 1 last time," Kyrgios wrote on X.

"We had our differences but you were one hell of a warrior. Best wishes and goodluck with whatever comes next."

Nick Kyrgios has played just one singles match in the past two years due to knee, foot, and wrist injuries that required surgery and extensive rehabilitation. During his lengthy absence from the official tour, he participated in exhibition matches and worked as a broadcaster for prestigious tournaments.

While he hasn't announced a specific return date for the ATP tour, Kyrgios is expected to come back at the 2025 Australian Open.