Rafael Nadal selected to offer his farewell to tennis by enjoying for his nation and, regardless of Spain being eradicated within the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, the world was there (in particular person or in spirit) for the Spanish champion.
Among the many many messages and honors acquired by the Spaniard, stands out the certainly one of legend Rod Laver, thought of by many to be one of many strongest tennis gamers of all time. The Australian stated he was proud to have seen Rafa compete and thanked him for having left him so many moments.
“Rafa, watching you compete has been a privilege. Your legacy will remain as one of the greatest who ever had the pleasure of playing. Thank you for countless unforgettable moments and for setting a standard of excellence that will inspire generations to come. I wish you happiness and success in this next chapter,” he wrote on X.
Rafael Nadal© ITF YouTube video
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The 22-time Grand Slam champion gave farewell after greater than 20 years of success. The Spaniard’s last match didn’t go as he needed, as he was defeated in two units by Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp. Though Carlos Alcaraz quickly tied the sport, the Dutch doubles left no probability for Spain, who needed to say goodbye to the Davis Cup early.
“I am privileged to have received the affection of the whole world but especially of the Spanish. I have to congratulate the Dutch guys and say goodbye to my teammates. It didn’t go as I hoped, but I gave everything I had. This is my last day as a professional tennis player. Now it’s up to you guys to continue the work. It’s never easy to stop, I still love tennis to death but I can’t be competitive anymore. My body doesn’t allow me to do it anymore,” defined Rafa on the finish of the match.
