2024 may even be remembered because the yr of Rafael Nadal’s retirement from skilled tennis. The 22-time Grand Slam champion didn’t obtain sensible ends in his final dance and – after the Paris Olympics – he thought the correct time had come to begin one other chapter of his life.
The previous world No. 1 has chosen the Davis Cup Finals because the final official occasion of his iconic profession, hoping to assist Spain get so far as doable in Malaga. Spain’s run was a complete disappointment, as they had been eradicated already within the quarter-finals by Netherlands.
That surprising loss – additionally brought on by some improper decisions by Spanish captain David Ferrer – made Rafa’s farewell ceremony a lot sadder than anticipated. Many VIPs and sports activities champions had been absent and the organizers of the occasion discovered themselves very unprepared by making a number of errors.
Regardless of the unhappy farewell, the previous few months don’t have an effect on the legacy of among the best athletes of the fashionable period within the slightest. The Spanish legend made the historical past of this sport, taught different athletes what it means to by no means hand over and was the creator of a number of the best feats within the historical past of contemporary sport.
His triumphs on the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2022 will endlessly stay etched within the reminiscence of followers, when Nadal’s profession already appeared near its conclusion. Accidents have closely affected him within the final two years and his appearances on the pitch have turn into more and more sporadic.
Two legendary rivalries
There is no such thing as a doubt that Rafa’s profession has additionally been so particular because of his iconic rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Though he has confronted the Serbian probably the most occasions, the Spaniard has topped the previous Swiss champion as the most important rival of his profession.
On the most recent version of the ‘Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast’, former WTA star Andrea Petkovic revealed a confession that Toni Nadal made to her a while in the past: “I beloved the match-up between Novak and Rafa, as a result of Rafa revered Novak and is aware of he’s the best participant he has ever performed.
It’s attention-grabbing as a result of I talked to Toni Nadal and he stated Novak is the best participant Nadal confronted and he stated the explanation for that’s Novak sees the ball like no person else. He’s the one one who attacked Rafa’s forehand.
He gave an instance. He stated the primary few occasions Novak tried to take Rafa’s forehand on the rise along with his backhand and mistimed it just a few occasions and was late on it. Then within the third match he had excellent timing each time. He stated he had one of the best eyes in tennis.”
Nadal and Federer final confronted one another within the semifinals of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships, however the Spaniard was the King’s accomplice within the final match of his profession on the 2022 Laver Cup on the O2 Area in London.
The final official conflict with Nole was within the second spherical of the Olympic event in Paris, though the 2 legends additionally confronted one another on the ‘Six Kings Slam’ in Saudi Arabia in October.
Rafa deserved a greater farewell
The 22-time Grand Slam champion deserved a greater farewell to skilled tennis. Rafa has labored onerous to be aggressive in 2024, however he has solely performed 20 matches and has not received any titles (reaching just one ultimate in Bastad).
The previous world No. 1 thought of persevering with to play subsequent yr, till he realized it would not make any sense. The physique has despatched him very clear alerts during the last couple of years and the Spaniard understood that he might not compete to win probably the most prestigious titles.
The French Open and the Paris Olympics had been his two predominant objectives in 2024, however each failed for various causes. Nadal had hoped to win one final medal on the Olympics, however he failed to take action even in doubles alongside his younger compatriot Carlos Alcaraz. It is actually a disgrace that his final singles match was the dangerous loss to Botic van de Zandschulp on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Throughout an interview with ‘Championat’, WTA star Veronika Kudermetova opened up on Rafa’s farewell ceremony: “I learn the information about how the farewell ceremony went. It’s unhappy, in fact, that such legends depart the game. Nadal was an instance for us all, not solely in sports activities, in tennis, but additionally as an individual with a capital P. It is unhappy that we and the brand new era of tennis gamers will not be capable of see him play on the court docket. It is unhappy when such worthy individuals depart the game!”
