ATP Stars Pay Tribute To Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki

Some of the biggest names in tennis turned their attention to basketball as NBA stars Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki played the final games of their careers on Wednesday.

Alexander Zverev, John Isner and Andy Roddick paid tribute to them on social media. Zverev has cited Wade as his favourite athlete and had the chance to meet the Miami Heat shooting guard during the 2018 Miami Open presented by Itau.

Introducing new @MiamiHEAT power forward, Alexander #Zverev

What do you think, @DwyaneWade? ??#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/P7EkeUyAvm

— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) March 22, 2018

“Thank you @dwyanewade for everything you have done not only for the sport of basketball, but the world of sports in general,” wrote Zverev in a lengthy Instagram tribute. “Showing the way for so many young kids from all over the world [and] that if you have the determination, the passion, the will and the hard work, you can achieve anything no matter where you come from… I just want to say thank you as a fan, as a fellow athlete and as a kid who always admired you and followed you your whole career.”

Roddick, who traded groundstrokes and jump shots with Wade at the 2010 Miami Open, tweeted “Tip of the cap to @dwyanewade. Was my favorite player for most of my adult life…cheers, and happy post-career my friend!”

Isner, an avid basketball fan and friend of fellow Dallas resident Nowitzki, tweeted video of the German’s last shot and wrote “What a freakin legend,” adding a goat emoji. Nowitzki is a tennis fan himself and has made several appearances at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Dallas. Isner and Roddick have also participated in Nowitzki’s charity tennis event in Dallas.

?. What a freakin legend https://t.co/IESgjEQHwn

— John Isner (@JohnIsner) April 11, 2019

Zverev is next scheduled to compete at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, while Isner will make his clay-court debut this season at the Mutua Madrid Open.