The end of the season usually brings retirement announcements and this year is no different. Pedro Cachin, the 30-year-old Argentine has just announced his retirement from the sport. He leaves a career that had seen him achieve a career peak of World No. 48. Cachin shared an emotional post on Instagram, accompanied by a series of photos from his tennis journey over the years.

Over the course of his career, he was able to compete with legends like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as well as young stars like Carlos Alcaraz. He even won an ATP Tour singles title at the 2023 Gstaad Open. Yet, the past year had been rough, injuries and physical struggles caused his ranking to tumble to World No. 665.

In his post, Cachin spoke about what reaching World No. 48 truly represented.  “48th in the world, it sounds easy, but it isn’t…,” he wrote. It’s “hours of training, travel, competition, sweat, and experiences. It was an UNFORGETTABLE journey, with many lessons along the way and with a clear goal, which at many times seemed blurry/faraway, but in the end we succeeded.”

He also gave a shoutout to the people behind the scenes. “I was privileged to have competed in the best tournaments and courts in the world, Rafa in Madrid, Novak in Wimbledon, play Copa Davis, win an ATP, among others,” he explained. Family, friends, coaches, and fans all played a part, offering support, encouragement, and love every step of the way. “Thank you, tennis, for all the experiences and lessons,” he added.

Cachin had a commendable run in the Grand Slams, playing in the main draw of eight tournaments. His best result came at the 2022 US Open when he reached the third round.

Interestingly enough, he also became the first player to win a singles match at the US Open using the new 10-point tiebreak format, now used when two players are tied 6-6 in the final set. Some of his most memorable matches came against the sport’s biggest stars.

Djokovic defeated him in straight sets at Wimbledon 2023, but he put up a strong fight against Nadal at the 2023 Madrid Open, taking a set off him. After the match, Cachin even asked Nadal for a shirt as a memento, and Nadal happily gave it to him. Once the post went viral, athletes across the tennis world filled his comment section with well wishes.

Tennis stars unite with heartfelt tributes after Cachin’s farewell

Seeing Pedro Cachin’s retirement post touched many people, but it especially made Juan Martin del Potro emotional. Del Potro commented, “Congratulations Pedrito! I hope you really enjoy this new phase of your life. Thanks for being with us for such special moments.”

Their bond has always been respectful. Cachin once said Argentina had been “spoiled with [Juan Martin] Del Potro, [David] Nalbandian and [Guillermo] Coria. I think no country in the world had that,” showing how deeply he admired Del Potro as part of the country’s tennis legacy.

Soon after, Tomas Martin Etcheverry added his own heartfelt message. He wrote, “Amazing, my brother. I wish you all the best. Above everything else, you are one of the best people I have ever met. You deserve everything.” Another touching message came from Alex Corretja Verdegay, the former world No. 2. He commented, “You were brave, you gambled hard not knowing the reward, now you know.. people ADORE you and RESPECT you (I’m the first) that’s much more important than any title, CACHIN ALWAYS IN MY TEAM, better said, ALWAYS IN MY FAMILY.”

For Cachin, this was more than praise from a legend. Corretja has been one of the most important figures in his life. Cachin has often spoken about Corretja as a father figure. After moving to Spain as a young player, far from home and family, Corretja became the one who guided him, protected him, and taught him how to think and compete at a high level. Cachin has said in interviews that Corretja shaped how he understood pressure, mindset, and maturity in the sport. For him, their bond has always been emotional, not only professional.

Support also poured in from many fellow Argentines. Federico Coria commented, “tremendous run Pedrito! Here we go Bell Ville.” Mariano Navone added, “How great you are, cackle! The best always, enjoy this new stage doc, you’ll miss the Lo.” Diego Schwartzman shared, “❤️❤️❤️ sos cra. Bienvenido al club,” which was like a warm welcome into the world after tennis.

International stars joined in as well. Fabio Fognini commented, “Grande Pedritoooooooooo 🇦🇷❤️ Good luck and a big hug….” Messages like these showed how the tennis world appreciated Cachin. Not just for his results, but for the way he carried himself and the relationships he built.