Rafael Nadal bids farewell to tennis, leaving behind an ‘eternal’ legacy

Rafael Nadal bid an emotional farewell to professional tennis on Tuesday, marking the end of a 23-year career that cemented his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. The 38-year-old retired following Spain’s Davis Cup quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands, where he fell to Botic van de Zandschulp in his final singles match.

Speaking to a crowd of over 10,000 fans at the Martín Carpena arena, Nadal reflected on his storied career and the impact he hopes to leave behind.

“I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one,” Nadal said during a ceremony honoring his retirement. “I understand that the love I have received, if it was just for what happened on the court, would not be the same.”

Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, expressed gratitude to his family, including his uncle and long-time coach Toni Nadal, who played a pivotal role in shaping his career.

“The titles, the numbers are there, so people probably know that, but the way that I would like to be remembered more is like a good person, from a small village in Mallorca,” he said. “I just want to be remembered as a kid that followed their dreams and achieved more than what I had dreamed.”