Rafael Nadal says his tennis career has “ended” as his brilliant career came to an end at the Davis Cup in Malaga.
Immediately after the singles match, Nadal said with a smile, “In a way, it might have been good, if only it had been my last match.'' “We lost our first Davis Cup game and we lost our last game. So we close the circle.”
Nadal comfortably defeated Botic van de Zandsschulp 6-4, 6-4, suffering his first loss in 20 years in the Davis Cup singles, where he had won 29 consecutive matches. Early Wednesday morning, the Netherlands defeated Spain 2-1 in the quarterfinal match, ending Nadal's career.
Just before the match, as Nadal stood on the court to listen to the national anthem with his teammates, he shed tears as he prepared himself for the match. “Of course today was an emotional day,” Nadal said. “That's how I felt. And of course, the feeling of singing the national anthem at the end is very special. And of course, a little bit of mixed emotions makes things a little bit more difficult.”
As the draws continued, Nadal took time to realize the fate of his career. Alcaraz won 7-6 (0), 6-3 over Talon Griekspur to bring Spain back to 1-1 against the Netherlands, before Wesley Kuhlhoff and Van de Zandsschulp scored 7-6 (4). ), closing out the tie at 7-. Victory over Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers 6(3).
Nadal then remained on court for a special ceremony, addressing the crowd and thanking his family and everyone who has supported him throughout his career. Nadal broke down in tears after being hailed by rivals and colleagues including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Andy Murray, who paid tribute to his career in a video montage.
“The truth is, you never want to get to this point. I'm not tired of playing tennis, but my body doesn't want to play anymore, so I have to accept that,” Nadal said. . “I feel very blessed to have been able to turn my hobby into a career for so long. I also want to thank my family, my team, and you for being such an unforgettable part of my life for so many years. I also remember that.
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“I believe in continuity and I believe in being close to the people who have made my life better, which has allowed me to develop personal relationships that go beyond professional. Thank you so much, because without you this would not have been possible, and I say this from the bottom of my heart.”
Asked how he would like to be remembered in the sport, Nadal said: “I want to be remembered as a good person from a small village in Mallorca. That I had my own life. When I was little… I had an uncle in my village who was a tennis coach, and I'm just a kid who followed my dreams and worked hard to become what I am today. I work hard and do my best every day. But I'm one of the lucky ones.”
