2024 Nadal: the end of the path to glory

This wasn’t just another year. But more for the goal than for the path. Rafael Nadal in 2024. marks and became the epilogue to a career full of glory.

Only seven competitions after 2023, in which there was one or another “damn” injury. He left Brisbane in January due to another illness and cancellations of scheduled tournaments returned to his calendar. He focused his attention on the brick dust, his natural habitat, which gave him much of what he is. Belonging Count Godot

he was surpassed in the second round; V magic box, in eighths; Rome and Roland Garros were eliminated in the first round. Unusual for someone who has never experienced this. Not even at the very beginning.

Paris and the Olympic Games at Roland Garros could be the decisive test. The one you dreamed of. The one that the “owner of the house” could dream of. The steps of each event were themselves a farewell. The public reacted more favorably to the departure of their idol than the player himself.

Nadal “captured the City of Light.” To the magic of Philippe Chatrier. To the average Parisian who supported him in every battle. He lost in the second round of singles to Djokovic, who eventually became champion. In doubles with Carlos Alcaraz, it was an opportunity to carry on the legacy and pick up the baton, but it wasn’t an epic either. They reached the quarterfinals, one step away from competing for medals against Americans Austin Krajicek and Rafeev Ram.

He didn’t want to say goodbye there and left everyone in line. He no longer competed. Four months later, interrupted by an exhibition of petrodollars and Arab sheikhs called Six kings helmet.

He confirmed his presence in the Spanish Davis Cup team and prepared for it. In Malaga in search of another title, the sixth in the national team. He announced on video the exact moment the countdown would begin. The beginning of the end.

It wasn’t the expected ending, or so it was. He thanked the four winds and never thought about the result. Whoever has it and has had it will forever be a winner. Fourteen Roland Garros titles, 92 trophies in the bag plus Davis Cup honors, 209 weeks as number one and two Olympic gold medals plus eternal recognition from peers and fans. You don’t need more or much less.