On October 10, one of the tennis greats announced a decision that would conclude a great era of the sport.
“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country,” he said in a video statement on social media. “[…]I feel super, super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience. I want to thank the entire tennis industry.”
Anyone who knows anything about tennis knows about the resilient Rafa, the man who, for decades, embodied persistence and dogged determination. Federer was known for his grace, Djokovic was known for his technical skill, and Rafa was known for his effort. I can still remember my old tennis coach telling me how Rafa always played the last set of a game like he was playing the first set.
Career
Nadal has won 92 ATP titles throughout his career, which was kickstarted since he was 9, training with his uncle on clay courts in Spain. That early clay court memory is what launched him to being unarguably the greatest player on the clay court of all time, with a superhuman win percentage of 88.7%.
“He hasn’t just won the most French Opens; he has won more than twice as many as anyone else in the Open era,” ESPN reported in the wake of Nadal’s retirement announcement.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion (the name given to those winning all four major ATP titles in the same season) was known for his powerful lefty forehand with a topspin the likes of which have never been seen before (and may never be seen again). He won his first major title in 2005, and never stopped winning on the court (and in our hearts) from there.
“Your legacy,” said Carlos Alcaraz, another young record-breaking Spaniard and Rafa’s protege, “won’t be matched.”
Injuries and Health
Many have said that Nadal did not retire the way he wanted. In 2023, the 38-year old legend had to get hip surgery after an injury on the courts, and didn’t return for months.
“You can´t keep demanding more and more from your body, because there comes a moment when your body raises a white flag,” Nadal said as he sat out from the French Open in 2023, for the first time since 2005. “Even though your head wants to keep going, your body says this is as far as it goes.”
Rafa continued to have other smaller injuries such as sprains, foot problems, and muscle strains in his chest.
Farewell
Rafael Nadal has influenced generations of tennis players, and has been the idol of many who grew up to aspire to their dreams. Even outside of tennis, he taught his fans and peers the strength in resilience, and the honor in giving your 100%. As his rival and friend Djokovic said,
“Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever. Only you know what you had to endure to become an icon of tennis and sport in general.”
