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Cape Town - Tennis superstars Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have paid tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant following a tragic helicopter crash.
Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine people to lose their lives in the tragedy.
Tributes have flooded in from around the world for the 41-year-old, and the leading lights of tennis have certainly been affected by it.
"My heart truly mourns over the news today," Djokovic wrote on Instagram. "Kobe was a great mentor and friend.
"There are not enough words to express my deepest sympathies to the Bryants and every family suffering from this tragedy."
World No 1 Nadal also expressed his shock and sympathies, saying: "Horrible news today.
"Tragic the death of one of the greatest sportsman in the world.
"Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and other passengers. My condolences to his wife and families. I am in shock."
Simona Halep, who beat Elise Mertens on Monday, added: "I feel really sad about this.
"I have been affected when I saw the TV in the morning, was actually the first thing that I saw.
"It’s a huge loss for the world, for the sport. I mean, for the family, I think it's even - I cannot have, like, described this to lose one person.
"It’s terrible to lose more than one. It's tragedy.
"So all my thoughts to the family, and I don't know how they can feel a little bit better, but it's a tough moment for the world. I feel so sad about it."
- TeamTalk Media
