Serena Williams‘ former coach Rennae Stubbs compared Rafael Nadal to Steffi Graf as both retired while battling fitness problems. Stubbs also compared how Nadal retired quietly without much ‘pomp and ceremony’ just like Graf.

While there was controversy around the farewell ceremony, Stubbs thinks Nadal probably wanted it that way, unlike what his two rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer would have preferred. As for Graf, Stubbs feels that her body was hurting and she had also started dating Andre Agassi, and thus the German deemed it best to ‘drop the mic’ and walk away.

Nadal hung up his racket at the Davis Cup following Spain’s defeat to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals in Malaga. Tennis fans and pundits had criticized the farewell ceremony, with the former World No. 1’s uncle Toni Nadal also unhappy with it.

Rennae Stubbs recalled her conversation with Steffi Graf when the German told her about her retirement. Stubbs was shocked to learn that Graf chose to retire immediately instead of waiting for the US Open, which took place about three weeks later.

Stubbs retired in 1999 just months after clinching the French Open, her 22nd major trophy. She was World No. 3 back then and was just 30 years old. The Australian, while comparing Graf to Rafael Nadal, said that the latter was satisfied with the farewell ceremony he was given.

Tennis fans were shocked not to see Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer during the farewell ceremony but later learned the reason behind their absence. Nadal is th