Rafael Nadal formally performed his final tennis match on Tuesday on the Davis Cup, and it was an emotional goodbye for the sports activities world. His legendary 23-year profession included 22 Grand Slam wins, 92 ATP Tour titles, two Olympic gold medals and in addition to a lovable swagger and persona that transcended the game.
“The titles, the numbers are there. Folks in all probability know that,” Nadal mentioned. “However the best way that I wish to be remembered extra is sort of a good particular person type a small village in Mallorca … I simply need to be remembered as particular person and a child that adopted their desires, and achieved greater than what I ever dreamed.”
Longtime rival and shut good friend Roger Federer had some of the touching reactions as he wrote a heartfelt letter saying Nadal made him “reimagine” his game.
Novak Djokovic, the third piece of the period’s Massive Three, had posted his personal message to Nadal a month in the past and had even asked Nadal to stay a little longer. However a more moderen message got here in a particular video shared by the Davis Cup social media account.
“Your tenacity, your preventing spirit, the vitality that you just introduced, the facility is one thing that will likely be studied and one thing that will likely be transferred to many, many generations which might be developing,” Djokovic mentioned. “I have been very honored and thrilled to be known as your rival. The tennis world and the sports activities world will miss the unimaginable vitality that you just introduced on the courtroom. There’s a lot to embrace, a lot to rejoice.”
That video additionally included messages from different stars together with Serena Williams.
“You’ve got impressed me to have so many wins, to maintain going, to struggle, to get higher, to enhance. To mainly play such as you,” Williams mentioned. In her personal submit, she admitted she was getting choked up seeing Nadal retire. She was additionally decked out in his gear.
World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, 21, who has established himself as the following Spanish tennis star, shared that Nadal was his inspiration.
Coco Gauff is American, however on Tuesday she liked a unique nation. “As we speak, I’m from Spain,” she wrote.
Retired soccer celebrity David Beckham despatched Nadal a message that was partly in Spanish. “Hola, mi amigo Rafa,” he mentioned. “Felicidades por tu carrera increible (Congratulations in your unimaginable profession). Rafa, I wished to ship my love and big congratulations to you for an incredible profession. Thanks for thus many unimaginable moments and reminiscences as a tennis fan and the whole lot that you’ve performed to encourage younger individuals world wide.”
Nike lit up a construction subsequent to the Eiffel Tower highlighting a few of Nadal’s greatest accomplishments.
The ATP Tour celebrated by sharing a video narrated by Carlos Moya, Nadal’s coach.
Nadal gained a report 14 French Open titles, so Roland Garros was very a lot current as nicely.
Listed below are another messages and reactions:
