"Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal will be missed" - Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola weighs in on tennis future without Big 3

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola shared his thoughts on the future of tennis after the "Big 3" era of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal comes to an end. His comments followed the news of the Spaniard's retirement announcement.

Earlier in October, Nadal revealed that he would soon be stepping away from the sport, with his final professional appearance set for the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain, next month. While the news caught some fans off guard, the majority had long felt that the moment was nearing.

Federer was the first of the legendary trio to retire, hanging up his racket in 2022. Now only Djokovic remains, though with time catching up, his farewell may be on the horizon.

Guardiola, a big tennis fan and compatriot of Rafael Nadal, recently shared his thoughts on the 22-time Grand Slam champion's retirement. In an interview with Sky Sports' new One-on-One series and podcast, he expressed feeling sad about the news but believed that the decision was taken with careful consideration.

"I think it happened because he saw that he cannot be or compete in the level that he had been for two decades," Guardiola said.

The former Barcelona manager continued:

"I admire the consistency of the Big 3 every single season being there and never giving up, coming back from the setbacks. "I admire all of them, so for me they are three geniuses."

"I tried to learn a lot from their body language, how they behave in the bad moments, how strong they are mentally, and of course the talent and skill. I think all three will be missed - but still Novak Djokovic can enjoy it - but the three will be missed," he added.

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Roger Federer & Novak Djokovic pay tribute to Rafael Nadal following Spanaird's retirement bombshell

The trio pictured at the 2022 Laver Cup | Image Source: Getty

Following Rafael Nadal’s retirement announcement, his longtime rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic paid tribute. In fact, the Swiss was among the very first to extend best wishes to the Spaniard.

Federer wrote on Instagram:

"What a career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come. Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love. It's been an absolute honor!"

Djokovic joined the club a bit later, saying that he plans to attend Nadal’s farewell in person.

"Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport. You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis and I think that's probably greatest achievement anyone can wish for," the Serb posted on Instagram.

"I wish you best possible farewell in Malaga with Davis Cup team of Spain. I will be there in person to pay respect to your stellar career," he added.