Emotional Rafael Nadal tears up during national anthem in farewell match as crowd chants ‘Rafa’

Rafael Nadal, in his farewell Davis Cup appearance, was moved to tears during the Spanish national anthem, marking the end of a legendary 22-Grand Slam career.

New Delhi: Rafael Nadal was visibly emotional as he stepped onto the court for what could be his final appearance in professional tennis on Tuesday (November 19) at the Palacio Deportes Martín Carpena in Malaga, Spain, during the 2024 Davis Cup quarterfinal between Spain and the Netherlands.

Before the first quarterfinal of the tournament began, both teams gathered for the national anthems. As the Spanish national anthem played in front of his home crowd, Nadal struggled to contain his emotions and was moved to tears. The crowd responded with an outpouring of support, chanting “Rafa” in unison.

Nadal announced his retirement from professional tennis after an illustrious two-decade career, during which he won an impressive 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 French Open crowns. The Davis Cup finals will mark his final tournament, following a series of injury struggles over the past few seasons.

There were doubts about Nadal’s fitness ahead of the match, with speculation that he might only play in the doubles. However, Spain thrilled fans worldwide by announcing that Nadal would compete in their opening singles match against Botic Van de Zandschulp.

This could be Nadal’s final match in his tennis career if Spain do not win the tie. If the six-time champions emerge victorious, they will face either Germany or Canada in the semi-final on Friday (November 22). The summit clash is scheduled for Sunday (December 24).

Throughout his career, Nadal has played a crucial role in transforming tennis in Spain and was part of the Davis Cup-winning teams in 2004, 2009, 2011, and 2019.

Nadal was unable to compete in the Australian Open, Wimbledon, or US Open this season due to ongoing fitness issues. He also suffered a shock first-round exit at the French Open, marking his first-ever defeat in the opening round of the tournament, losing in straight sets to Alexander Zverev.