Spain and tennis assimilate Rafael Nadal’s farewell

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — As Rafael Nadal prepared to serve in the final tennis match of his career, a woman’s voice broke the silence in the stands: “You are making Spain proud!”

Soon after, Nadal wiped tears from his face and said goodbye to his Spanish compatriots.

His farewell to tennis was as emotional as expected when it came too soon for most in Malaga on Tuesday. Nadal deliberately staged his last act in Spain, but the hosts were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup. He failed to end his career with a victory.

It was heartbreaking for his fans across Spain to see one of the country’s best athletes – arguably the greatest of all time – finally retire.

“It is obvious that Rafa is the best athlete of all time in Spain. He’s certainly on a different level than everyone else,” Feliciano Lopez, a former tennis player and tournament director of the Davis Cup finals, told The Associated Press. “No disrespect to all the other Spanish athletes, and we have very good athletes, but no one has been able to inspire the fans like Rafa did.”

Lopez, who was Nadal’s Davis Cup teammate, compared him to figures such as Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali, athletes who transcended the sport.

“There are a very small group of athletes who have been able to inspire people in a special way outside of sports during their careers,” Lopez said. “Rafa belongs to this small group. “People all over 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 of play and 22 Grand Slam titles, two more than Roger Federer and second only to 24-year-old Novak Djokovic. the only one of the Big Three still playing.

Nadal was on the front pages of Spanish newspapers after his farewell match, a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Dutchman Boteach van de Zandschulp, the world No. 80.

“It was an honor,” said sports newspaper AS.

“Thank you Rafa,” wrote Marca.

“Eternal” with the inscription Mundo Deportivo.

It is difficult to find another Spanish athlete who would be close to the fame and sporting achievements of Nadal.

Other Spaniards who have achieved sporting success include Severiano Ballesteros, champion of five major golf tournaments; Miguel Indurain, five-time Tour de France winner; Pau Gasol, two-time NBA champion; Fernando Alonso, two-time Formula 1 champion; Marc Marquez, six-time MotoGP champion; and Carlos Sainz, four-time Dakar Rally winner.

Spain also has many successful footballers, including world champions Iker Casillas and Andres Iniesta, but none have the stature of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to transcend the sport 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 both for his victories and 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 the sport in Spain,” said Clara Garcia, a 35-year-old fan who was in Malaga to see Nadal. “It is not easy to know that he will no longer play and represent Spain on courts around the world.”

Federer praised his longtime friend and rival in an open letter. “You made Spain proud, you made the whole tennis world proud. “You have always been a role model for children all over the world.”

Nadal told those gathered at his farewell ceremony after the defeat to Spain that he had always “fought to become better and achieve my goals with respect and humility, and I appreciated all the good things that happened to me.

“I tried to be a good person, I hope that’s how you perceived it,” he noted. “I leave with peace of mind that I left behind a legacy that I truly feel is not only sporting, but also personal.”

Other tennis professionals such as Djokovic and Serena Williams, as well as former soccer stars such as David Beckham and other athletes, have praised Nadal.

“Thank you as a tennis fan for so many incredible moments and memories, and for all you have done to inspire young people around the world,” said former England and Real Madrid player Beckham.

“Oh my 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 the age of 21), said it would be difficult for him to escape the inevitable pressure that would come with following in his idol’s footsteps.

“I don’t want to think that we have to continue his legacy. I don’t want it to upset me 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 last forever.”

It was not entirely clear what the future held 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 is changing radically. “I accept everything as usual and accept a life different from what it has been for the last 30 years, but with the hope of living it,” Nadal said on Wednesday after arriving home in Mallorca, where he also has the Rafal Nadal Academy.

One thing was for sure: Nadal would never be too far from tennis.

“I’m about to retire from professional tennis, but I’m still here and I hope to be a good ambassador for tennis. “This is what I’ve strived for my whole life: to strive to be better and achieve goals,” he said.

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This story was translated from English by an AP editor using a generative artificial intelligence tool.