MALAGA, Spain (AP) — As Rafael Nadal prepared to serve in what turned out to be the final tennis match of his career, a woman’s voice broke the silence from the stands: “You make Spain proud ! »
Shortly after, Nadal wiped tears from his face and greeted his fans.
His farewell to tennis was also emotional as expected when he arrived in Malaga on Tuesday, too early for most. Nadal deliberately placed his swan song on his home court, but Spain was eliminated in the Davis Cup quarter-finals and he and they could not end his exalted career with a victory.
It was also heartbreaking for his fans across Spain to see one of the country’s best – arguably the greatest sportsman of all time – finally call it quits.
“It is clear that Rafa is the best athlete of all time in Spain. He’s at a different level from everyone by far,” Feliciano López, a former tennis player and tournament director of the Davis Cup final, told the Associated Press. “No disrespect to all the other Spanish athletes, and we have some very good ones, but no one has been able to inspire the fans in the same way as Rafa.”
López, who was Nadal’s Davis Cup teammate, compared him to Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali, all athletes who transcended the sport.
“There is a very small group of athletes who, during their careers, have been able to inspire people in a special way, beyond sport,” López said. “Rafa belongs to this small group. People around the world will remember Rafa in 40 or 50 years. »
Unable to overcome a series of injuries in recent years, Nadal, 38, retired from professional tennis after more than 20 years on tour and 22 Grand Slam titles, two more than Roger Federer and just behind Novak’s 24 Djokovic. the only one of the Big Three still playing.
The front pages of the Spanish daily newspapers were all talking about Nadal following his farewell match — a 6-4, 6-4 defeat against the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, n°80.
“It was an honor,” said the sports daily AS.
“Thank you, Rafa,” captioned Marca.
“Eternal,” said Mundo Deportivo.
It is difficult to find another Spanish athlete who comes close to Nadal’s fame and sporting achievements.
Other Spaniards who achieved sporting greatness include five-time major golf champion Seve Ballesteros; Miguel Induráin, five-time winner of the Tour de France, Pau Gasol, double NBA champion; Fernando Alonso, two-time Formula 1 champion; six-time MotoGP champion Marc Márquez; and Carlos Sainz, four-time Dakar Rally winner.
Spain also has a long list of successful footballers, including World Cup winners Iker Casillas and Andrés Iniesta, but none have a status comparable to that of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, who have transcended sports like Nadal.
Nadal is also a two-time Olympic champion and was Spain’s flag bearer at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
He is adored in Spain as much for his victories as for his unwavering passion and dedication, and is considered an example to society at large for his values and humility on and off the court.
“Nadal makes us Spaniards proud. It represents the values of passion, camaraderie, solidarity. He will always be the image of sport in Spain,” said Clara García, a 35-year-old fan who was in Malaga to see Nadal. “It’s not easy to know that he won’t play and represent the Spain on the surrounding courts. the world. »
Federer welcomed the retirement of his longtime friend and foe in a open letter. “You have made Spain proud, you have made the entire tennis world proud. You have always been a role model for children around the world.
Nadal told the crowd during his farewell ceremony after Spain’s defeat that he “always strived to be better and achieve his goals with respect and humility, and I appreciated all the good things that happened to me.
“I tried to be a good person, that’s what mattered most to me, and I hope you noticed that.”
Fellow tennis pros Djokovic and Serena Williams, as well as former soccer stars David Beckham and other athletes praised Nadal.
“Thank you for so many incredible moments and memories as a tennis fan and for everything you have done to inspire young people around the world,” said Beckham, a former England and Real Madrid player.
“God, we’re going to miss you,” Williams said.
Carlos Alcaraz, considered Nadal’s heir in Spanish tennis – he already has four Grand Slam titles at 21 – said it would be difficult to avoid the inevitable pressure that will come if he follows in his footsteps. idol.
“I don’t want to think that we have to carry on his legacy. I don’t want it to be a frustration if we don’t reach the level that he reached,” Alcaraz said. “If I achieve half of what he achieved, I will be happy. His legacy will be eternal.
It was unclear what the future would hold for Nadal, who is an avid golfer and has always been linked with Real Madrid. He has said in the past that he would probably like to be president of the club one day.
“My life will change radically,” Nadal said on Wednesday after returning to Mallorca, where he also runs the Rafa Nadal Academy. “I have to accept this change as something normal and accept that my life will be different now than it was for the last 30 years. I’m excited about it, there’s no doubt about it.
One thing was certain: Nadal will never be far from tennis.
“I will be retiring from the sport but I will continue to be available for whatever is needed and be a good ambassador, which is something I have tried to do all my life.”
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AP Tennis writer Howard Fendrich contributed.
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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
