Nadal is already a legend: "I have to give thanks"

On April 29, 2002, a promising tennis player named Rafa Nadal made his professional debut on the ATP circuit at the tournament in Mallorca, the island where he was born. The 15-year-old teenager, who came from a family of sportsmen - his uncle Miguel Angel was a footballer for FC Barcelona, among other teams - began a career that he could never have imagined in his wildest dreams. A story that ended 22 years later, on November 19, 2024, when the Spanish tennis player ended his playing career to become a legend, not only of tennis, but of world sport.

This Tuesday, Nadal officially said goodbye to professional tennis in Malaga (Spain) by playing his last match, although the closing that was not as expected. He lost to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in two sets (4-6 and 4-6) in the Davis Cup and the Spanish national team was eliminated.

Those gathered in the stadium knew that they were facing an image that will remain in the history books of tennis and they were not going to regret the elimination of Spain from the tournament. They rose to their feet to give a standing ovation to the new tennis legend, who, amid tears of emotion, dedicated a warm thank you to all those who have supported him during his career.

"The thanks I have to give to so many people. It's hard to start. Thanks to the public. Sincerely, it has been 20 years of career in which you have always carried me along. In the good moments you helped me to win the next point. In the bad times, to keep fighting. Spain, the whole world in general, I have felt very fortunate to receive so much affection, and especially here in Spain," Nadal began his speech.

"The reality is that one never wants to reach this moment, I'm not tired of playing tennis, just the body has reached a point where it doesn't want to play tennis anymore. I feel privileged, I have made a hobby my career and for longer than I ever imagined. Thanks for this life and to all of you who have accompanied me. Family, team, friends, it is not a day to personalize because I am going to forget people, you have been an unforgettable part of my day to day in all these years, I am a person who believes in continuity and keeping the people who love you, that is what I have tried, make few changes, and that has led me to have a personal relationship that goes far beyond my professional career. A thousand thanks, without you it would not have been possible, I say it from the bottom of my heart," he added.

Tennis and sport surrender to Nadal

Numerous tennis legends in general have sent their messages of congratulations to Nadal for his career and words of affection for the hard moment that retirement means for an athlete. The most special have been those of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, with whom he has shared an era difficult to see again on the courts and with whom he has starred in one of the healthiest sporting rivalries of all time. Others have been great rivals, such as the British Andy Murray, his compatriot David Ferrer or the Argentine Juan Martin del Potro.

In addition, from the women's game, emblematic players such as Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova and  Serena Williams have payed tribute to Nadal. As have some active tennis players -such as Carlos Alcaraz- and even from the ATP circuit itself and from the management of tournaments such as Roland Garros, the championship that the Spanish tennis player won so many times.

Nadal's career: 22 Grand Slams, 36 ATP Masters, 1000´s of injuries...

Few tennis players and sportsmen in general can say that their showcases glitter as much as Nadal's. Because he has an enviable collection, full of trophies and medals obtained through struggle and sacrifice that make him worthy of being one of the best athletes of all time.

Since he won his first title at the ATP Tour 250 in Sopot (Poland) and the first of the five Davis Cups he has won, Nadal has been expanding the space of his gallery year after year to make room for the 92 ATP titles and Olympic medals he has won throughout his career.

But if there is a tournament in which the Spanish tennis player has excelled, it is Roland Garros. No one in the history of tennis, so far, has managed to climb so many times to the top of the Parisian podium. And it seems unlikely that anyone will dethrone him. Nadal has reached the Roland Garros final on 14 occasions and, on all 14 occasions, he has triumphed, earning the nickname of the king of clay.

His performance in the other three Grand Slams does not fall short either: two Wimbledon (2008 and 2010), four American Open (2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019) and two Australian Open (2009 and 2022). In addition, he won gold in the men's singles draw at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, he topped the podium in the men's doubles draw, along with his compatriot Marc Lopez.

With the Spanish national team, he won five Davis Cups, in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019, in which he defeated the United States; Argentina; Czech Republic; Argentina again; and Canada, respectively.

If anything has prevented him from extending his legendary career, it has been the injuries, the main reason why he had to say goodbye to professional tennis. Injuries that have affected virtually every part of his body: knees, abdomen, shoulders, back, hips.

Once retired, Nadal will continue to be linked to tennis. He has several academies to train tennis players on the island of Mallorca, in Kuwait and in Saudi Arabia, where he is an ambassador for his tennis academies.