"He knows that Father Time is here": Fans should enjoy Rafael Nadal while they still can says golf legend Tiger Woods

Rafael Nadal has been heavily praised by a sportsman as highly thought of as the great Spaniard in former World No.1 in golf, Tiger Woods who is a well-known tennis fan believes fans should enjoy the Spanish legend while they still can.

Nadal last played at the 2023 Australian Open, before undergoing surgeries and procedures in an attempt to give the ATP Tour one final crack in 2024 which he hinted would be his retirement year.

Woods himself likened it to Roger Federer in that no fan wants to see their favourite players retire, but that eventually age catches up with the top tennis stars. Only Novak Djokovic will remain out of the so-called Big Three by the end of 2024, with the 37-year-old still at the very top of his game despite being in his twilight years.

But Woods not only praised Nadal as a competitor, but as a sportsman who has undergone adversity to keep winning including at the 2022 Australian Open with a broken foot. He will hope to replicate that form for one final time next year.

“Well, I think what Rafa, what he’s done is extraordinary,” said the former golf No.1. “I mean, he won the Australian Open [2022] on a broken foot. The guy is beyond tough and beyond competitive.”

“He knows that Father Time is here. Every athlete faces it. Although in some sports it happens faster than others, and unfortunately, just like every sport, you get aged out. I don’t want to see him go. I never wanted to see Fed [Roger Federer] go, but that’s what happened.

“We should all enjoy watching him compete and watching him play and what he’s meant to the game, what he’s meant to all of us, just to see the passion of how he plays and why he plays.”