Legendary tennis players Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have praised Spain’s Fernando Verdasco after he retired from the sport. The 41-year-old played his last professional game in the Qatar Open in the doubles category.

The crowd showed their appreciation for Verdasco, who lives in Doha, with rapturous applause as he spread his arms wide. And Djokovic, who applauded with them, oozed class as he signalled for spectators to make even more noise. Djokovic continued whipping up the audience as the pair made their way off court.

Novak Djokovic and Fernando Verdasco lost to the second-seeded pair in the Doha doubles quarterfinal and that officially ended the Spaniard's career.