The moment always comes, never easy, when you have to leave the arena, even if you have made tenacity and struggle your trademark. Time is an inexorable opponent, we know that sooner or later it will win. On 10 October 2024 Rafa Nadal, 38 years old, announced that in Malaga with the Davis finals he will shake hands with his last opponent and with him the tennis he played as a competitor and hopefully to the physical pain that accompanied this long goodbye and to which he tried not to give up. Some will say that the champion from Palma del Mallorca should have done it sooner, without letting the passing time steal the soul from his game little by little, leaving the man Rafa to chase the champion he once was. In the abstract, perhaps whoever says it will be right, but no one has the right to decide the stages of other people’s lives.
Rafa Nadal was, with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, one third of the longest and perhaps most spectacular triumvirate in the history of tennis: there were many rivalries, none capable of monopolizing the game and the world rankings between threeliterally and for a long time closing the way to those who came immediately after.
Of the three, Nadal was perhaps the most tenacious, because his game, outside the box which would have been impossible in the tennis of the past with the white gestures and different rackets, asked of his body, powerful and worn out by the endless runs in search of the tight corners of his two-handed backhand, very effective but always hungry for a further step, much more than theirs has demanded from its rivals. A legacy of the childhood game, when little Rafa was still frail, he was set up with two hands on both sides, even on the forehand.
The red earth of Paris was an authentic kingdom for him: we can say without fear of contradiction that Rafael Nadal was the last king of France, the only acceptable foreign king in the history of a proudly French and very proudly republican republic: they recognized it, calling him among the last torchbearers, he champion of a traditionally un-Olympic sport, at the opening ceremony of Paris 2024. After having had the honor of carrying the flag of Spain at the opening of Rio 2016. Who knows if now the moment of the Légion d’Honneur will also come, for having brought the world’s spotlight on France, which is why other non-French people have been honored with it in the past. Meanwhile, he was honored by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo with the “Grand Vermeil” medal in May 2015, the city’s highest honor and a statue of him stands out, a living monument to a living monument, next to the Roland Garros courts.
He has never made any secret of feeling at home on the French clay, on which he has won like no other, but his game has also performed at its best on the hard surfaces, the most widespread in the world today, leading him to the conquest of 92 titles in the Professional Tennis Association, for $134,946,100 in prizes alonethe. Of his 22 slam titles, 14 were won in Paris, but there are those who maintain that the best tennis match in his long history and perhaps in history was played at Wimbledon, where he won the final in 2008 beating Roger Federer, on the hostile but stubbornly desired grass like grass I want children. It was certainly his most important match, because it was won on the least favorable terrain and because it served to arrange the (green) tile still missing in the complex and colorful mosaic of a wonderful career.
Your identity card according to ATP
His identity card on the ATP website describes him like this:
Full name: Rafael Nadal Opinion.
Nickname: Rafa.
He began playing tennis at age 4 with his uncle and longtime coach Toni. He plays with his left hand but writes with his right. He also played the two-handed forehand before his uncle Toni forced him to change at the age of 9. His father, Sebastian Nadal, is a businessman. His businesses include the family-owned Sa Punta restaurant and a glass and window company.
Wife: Maria Francisca Perello; son, Rafael;
Mother: Ana Maria Parera; sister, Maria Isabel.
His uncle, Miguel Angel, played football for Barcelona, Real Mallorca and the Spanish national team. participating in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He comes from the island of Mallorca like his coach, the former world number 1 Carlos Moya. He started the Rafa Nadal Foundation in 2008 and received the ATP ACES for Charity scholarship in 2011 and 2020. His mother, Ana Maria, is president of the foundation. In May 2016 he launched the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, which combines high-level tennis, education and residency.
RECORDS ON THE FIELD AND AWARDS OFF THE FIELD, AMONG CIVIC AND SOLIDARITY AWARDS
Alongside the titles won on the field, he has received countless awards for sporting merit and for his solidarity commitment.: he received a lot and donated a lot and his academy opened its doors to the victims of the flash floods that hit Mallorca in 2018. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in collaboration with NBA star Pau Gasol, he launched the campaign # NuestraMejorVictoria (Our best victory), encouraging donations from Spanish athletes, raising over 14 million euros to help people in difficulty. He has created tennis schools around the world: Tennis School in India (2010), the Rafa Nadal Tour in Spain (2014), the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center in Mexico (2019), the Rafa Nadal Tennis Center in Greece (2019), the Rafa Nadal Tour in Australia (2019) and the Rafa Nadal Academy in Kuwait (2020).
Won ATP award no. 1 5 times (2008, 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019), the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award 5 times (2010 and 2018-21), the Fans’ Favorite Award in 2022, the Comeback Player of Year in 2013, the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award in 2011, Most Improved Player of Year in 2005 and Newcomer of Year in 2003. Named Sportsman of the Year (2011 and 2021), Comeback Player of the Year (2014) and Rookie of the Year (2006) at the Laureus World Sports Awards.
He has received the highest Spanish honors, including the Prince of Asturias Award in 2008, the “Medalla de Oro al Trabajo” in May 2015, one of the highest civilian honors in Spain (Gold Medal for Merit in Work), and the honorary doctorate from the European University of Madrid in 2015 and the Gran Cruz de la Orden del Dos de Mayo in 2020, Madrid’s highest honor.
Nadal was the only tennis player, together with Emerson, Laver and Djokovic, to have won all the Majors, the most important tournaments, at least twice. He would have won even more if so many injuries hadn’t affected his career, making him a symbol of combativeness and tenacity, despite his amiable and calm character off the pitch.which allowed him to form a lasting and supportive friendship with his toughest opponent, the Swiss Roger Federer. It will be difficult now outside the white lines: let’s hope he already has the road to travel in mind so that tomorrow doesn’t become the golden exile of a veteran.
THE WORDS OF THE CHAMPION
“Hello everyone, I’m here to tell you that I’m retiring from professional tennis,” Rafa began. “The truth is that they have been difficult years, especially the last two. I think I am not able to play without limitations,” he admitted. “Obviously it’s a difficult decision, it took time to make, but in life everything has a beginning and an end and I think it’s the right time to end my career. It’s been a long and successful career, more than I imagined “.
His last professional tournament will be the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, scheduled from 19 to 24 November. The champion didn’t feel the emotion, speaking Spanish, but greeting in many languages: “I’m very excited by the fact that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup representing my country”, he explained: “it’s like closing the circle, because one of my first joys was the final in Seville in 2024.”
“I feel super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience,” he said, extending his thanks to “the entire tennis sector, all the partners for so many years. I’ve been through a lot with them and I’ve experienced many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.”