22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal's professional tennis journey ended on Wednesday morning with a straight sets loss to Netherlands' Botik van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-4 in the opening match of Spain's quarter-final match against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup. It is over.
Later, Carlos Alcaraz showed why he is one of the best players of all time, leveling the scoreline with a 7-6(0), 6-3 win against Talon Greekspur.
But later, Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers were defeated 7–6(4), 7–6(3) in the doubles decider, sending the Netherlands through to the next round.
Alcaraz wrote on Instagram after the match, “There will be many more, Davis, Rafa is just one. Thanks to you, I have been able to become a professional tennis player. It has been a blessing to be able to live out my career as a child, with You were a role model and a great teammate, leaving behind a lasting legacy.”
Notably, Alcaraz also got a chance to team with Nadal during the Paris Olympics, during which they failed to win a medal. Head-to-head, they have played three matches against each other, with Nadal winning two and Alcaraz winning one.
Speaking after the match, according to the ATP's official website, Nadal said amid chants of “Vamos, Rafa” (say Rafa in Spanish), “I am the one who should be grateful to so many people that it is difficult to know. Where to start.” To the fans, Nadal thanked them for their extraordinary support, for always helping him “win the next point” and motivating him to “fight” whenever things get tough. He said, “In Spain and the world in general, I feel very fortunate to have so much affection.” Congratulating his opponents as well as his teammates, Nadal said, “I want to thank the entire Spanish team present here. You all gave me the opportunity to play in this Davis Cup. It did not go the way we wanted. Many of the most emotional moments of my career have been with the many people present here, we have achieved many wonderful things together and now it is time to share them with you all. Keep achieving.” Nadal said that a player does not want this moment of retirement to come, but his body does not want to play tennis anymore.
“You have to accept the situation, I feel very fortunate. I've been able to turn one of my hobbies into my career, and it's been much longer than I imagined. I can only be grateful to life, ” he said.
He thanked the press, tennis institutions and the fraternity for their support that helped him move forward and also had a special message for his family and team, who were present in the stands.
“I am calm because I have received an education that allows me to live my new life with peace of mind. I have a wonderful family around me that supports me,” he said with tears in his eyes.
Nadal left the sport with 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Open singles titles. He also won the Australian Open twice in 2009 and 2022, Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010. He was also successful at the US Open, winning the title four times in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019. The 38-year-old player has won 92 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour-level titles, including 36 ATP Masters Championship trophies. He also captured an Olympic gold medal in men's doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, making him one of three male stars, besides Novak Djokovic and Andre Agassi, to complete a career Golden Slam by winning Olympic gold and all major Grand Slam titles. Nadal is also known as the 'Master of the Clay Court', having won 63 of his titles on clay surfaces. (ANI)
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