RIP Diego Maradona – tennis, and the world, reacts to the passing of a legend

News of Diego Maradona’s passing has shaken the sporting world.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most charismatic athletes of all-time, Maradona was a transcendent talent on the pitch, where his vision, ball control, passing and passion were unrivaled during his time. He was also a leader that lifted his comrades on his shoulders and took Argentinian football to the greatest heights.

Maradona is beloved universally and has always represented the hope, joy and magic of sport – the belief that anything is possible and that if we dare to dream it, we can do it. Today, after his passing at the too young age of 60, he is mourned – and celebrated – worldwide.

Maradona’s connection with tennis runs deep. First, almost all tennis players have a deep connection with the sport and therefore recognize the Argentine for his otherworldly talent and spirit. Second, Maradona himself was a massive tennis fan and made his presence felt at many events over the years.

This is how the tennis world (and the sporting world, and the free world) paid tribute on Twitter:

Juan Martin del Potro: “For me you will never die” 

Siento que volvés al lugar que te pertenece, EL CIELO. Para mí nunca vas a morir. Descansá en Paz.#GraciasDiego https://t.co/CenIdC4Tbe

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) November 25, 2020

Nadia Podoroska: Today I feel immense pain

No tuve la suerte de conocerte, tampoco tengo una foto con vos. Pero, al igual que millones de personas en el mundo, hoy siento un dolor inmenso.
Me quedo con esta imagen. Solo contra el mundo, como tantas veces!
Gracias, Diego ♾ pic.twitter.com/4yzBIQa2bn

— Nadia Podoroska (@nadiapodoroska) November 25, 2020

Guillermo Vilas: A giant hug for the family 

Diego.
😪 un abrazo muy fuerte a toda la familia

— Gᴜɪʟʟᴇʀᴍᴏ Vɪʟᴀs (@GuilleVilasOK) November 25, 2020

Pelé: One day I hope we can play football together in the sky

Que notícia triste. Eu perdi um grande amigo e o mundo perdeu uma lenda. Ainda há muito a ser dito, mas por agora, que Deus dê força para os familiares. Um dia, eu espero que possamos jogar bola juntos no céu. pic.twitter.com/6Li76HTikA

— Pelé (@Pele) November 25, 2020

Tennis TV/ Delpo: Maradona is like another God 

"For Argentinian people, Maradona is like another God" – @delpotrojuan

RIP Diego Maradona 💙 pic.twitter.com/xN6vxUWObc

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 25, 2020

Juan Monaco: Rest in peace – here you made us all happy 

Descansa en Paz Diego, acá nos hiciste felices a todos ❤️🙏🏼🙌 pic.twitter.com/yvHFud8Peu

— Juan Monaco (@picomonaco) November 25, 2020

Thiago Silva: 

“If I die, I want to be born again and I want to be a footballer. And I want to be Diego Armando Maradona again. I am a player who has given joy to people and that is enough for me and I have plenty”. (Diego Maradona) #RIPMaradona 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/lFVGU5u5gS

— Thiago Silva (@tsilva3) November 25, 2020

Cristiano Ronaldo: Goodbye to an eternal genius

Hoje despeço-me de um amigo e o Mundo despede-se de um génio eterno. Um dos melhores de todos os tempos. Um mágico inigualável. Parte demasiado cedo, mas deixa um legado sem limites e um vazio que jamais será preenchido. Descansa em paz, craque. Nunca serás esquecido.🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/WTS21uxmdL

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 25, 2020

Conchita Martinez: Today is a very sad day 

Para todos los amantes del fútbol hoy es un día muy triste. Descansa en paz, Diego. 💙#Maradona pic.twitter.com/l1I8hgDYpj

— Conchita Martínez 💙 (@conchitamartinz) November 25, 2020

Tennis writer Rene Stauffer – who sat next to Maradona at the 1984 Roland-Garros final 

It was the French Open Final 1984 when #diegomaradona showed up on the media tribune, sitting right next to me. He cheered like crazy for #johnmcenroe. In vain, as McEnroe lost a match he never should have lost to #ivanlendl, as we know. RIP pic.twitter.com/isJNOTJK8a

— René Stauffer (@staffsky) November 25, 2020

Diego Schwartzman: I love you forever 

Y cómo no te vas a llamar DIEGO?? Te amo para siempre D10S https://t.co/teE1cqjdf8

— diego schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) November 25, 2020

Carlos Berlocq: Thanks for the blessing 

https://twitter.com/charlyberlocq/status/1331665865629073408

David Nalbandian: I will never forget you, you are eternal

Así y levantando la Copa del Mundo te voy a recordar siempre. Nunca te voy a olvidar, Diego. Sos eterno.
❤️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/e9W4MjQ97g

— David Nalbandian (@nalbandiandavid) November 25, 2020

Tennis TV: here was a lot of love for Diego Maradona in the world of tennis

There was a lot of love for Diego Maradona in the world of tennis 💙 pic.twitter.com/Swsbdtt2sd

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 25, 2020

Rafael Nadal: One of the greatest athletes in history, what he did in football remains. 

Hoy el mundo del deporte en general y el fútbol en particular tiene un vacío. Se nos fue #Maradona uno de los deportistas mas grandes de la historia. Queda lo que hizo en el fútbol. Mi mas sincero y sentido pésame a su familia, al mundo del fútbol y a toda la Argentina 🇦🇷

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) November 25, 2020

Gabriela Sabatini: I adore you forever, friend 

No existen palabras para describir este momento, tristeza absoluta. Para mi serás eterno. Te adoro para siempre amigo❤️ Descansa en paz #GraciasDiego 💔🙏 pic.twitter.com/GcTw1JNHgp

— Gabriela Sabatini (@sabatinigabyok) November 25, 2020

Mike Tyson: He was one of my heroes and a friend

The Hand of God, Maradona has left us. In 86 we both won our championships. They use to compare the two of us. He was one of my hero’s and a friend. I respected him so much. He will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/E5j6DSfJas

— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) November 25, 2020

Magic Johnson: It was one of the thrills of my life when I got to meet him

The world lost one of the greatest soccer players that ever lived Diego Maradona. It was one of the thrills of my life when I got to meet him. Rest In Peace my friend and my prayers go out to his family. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/SgQvij7a72

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 25, 2020

Leylah Fernandez: My father showed me your talent, your fire … your genius. You are the true definition of a champion. Rest in eternal peace. 

RIP a la leyenda del fútbol, Diego Maradona. Mi padre me mostró tu talento, tu fuego … tu genio. Eres la verdadera definición de un campeón. Descansa en paz eterna 🙏🕊️ #diegomaradona pic.twitter.com/5i72Qg2yN0

— leylahfernandez (@leylahfernandez) November 25, 2020