2024-10-10 10:19:00
For more than two decades, Rafael Nadal embodied the unwavering will to win. What he did a phenomenal number of times on the ocher of Roland-Garros. But this clay court that has become his over the course of his 14 victories, he will never set foot on it again with the idea of winning the title. At 38, the Spanish legend will retire in November.
• Also read: Memories of Rafael Nadal in Montreal: when he celebrated his title with Nutella “toasts”
“Everything in life has a beginning and an end, and I think the time has come to end my career, which has been long and more successful than I could have imagined,” he declared Thursday, in a video posted on his X account.
This moment had been dreaded for a while by the tennis world, but inevitable. Throughout his career punctuated by 22 major titles – including 14 in Paris, a record, all Grand Slam tournaments combined – Rafa’s body abandoned him time and time again.
The result of ultra-physical tennis, of a desire to fight for every point that hurt his elbow, knees, wrist, back, ribs and abdominals. Nadal has also suffered from pain in his left foot since he was 18, resulting from an incurable pathology.
Farewells at home
The last two years have been particularly trying. “The ogre of ocher” has almost not been able to set foot on the courts since his final title at Roland-Garros, in 2022, which he won with his left foot numbed by painkillers.
The rare times he was able to play despite a few brilliant ups and downs, his tennis was light years away from that which allowed him to dominate the circuit for so many years.
All the same, Nadal will have the opportunity to say goodbye in due form next month in Malaga, in his native Spain. He will take part in the Davis Cup final from November 19 to 24.
“It’s a way of coming full circle, since one of my first great joys as a professional player was the final” of this event, won in 2004 in Seville, underlined the native of Mallorca.
The end of an era, again
This announcement comes two years after Roger Federer – with whom he will have fought multiple legendary duels – retired.
Photo AFP
From the famous “Big Three» who almost won all the major titles for 15 years, from the mid-2000s to the beginning of the 2020 decade, only the Serbian Novak Djokovic, 37 years old, remains.
It is therefore the end of an era, again, in men’s tennis. Behind him, Nadal leaves a formidable record, crowned with 92 singles titles and 209 weeks at world number one.
Along with Djokovic, he is the only player in the Open era (since 1968) to have won each of the four Grand Slam tournaments at least twice.
But what will forever mark the imagination – and undoubtedly, the history books – is his incredible domination at Roland-Garros.
AFP
He won his 14 trophies in 19 appearances, pocketing 112 victories, against four losses and one withdrawal. Figures that should never be reproduced.
– With AFP
Rafael Nadal’s main statements when announcing his retirement from sports
“I am here to tell you that I am leaving professional tennis”: here are the main extracts from Rafael Nadal’s announcement, in a video, regarding his retirement from sport:
- “The reality is the last few years have been tough, especially the last two. This is obviously a difficult decision that took me a while to make.”
- “I think my career has been long and more successful than I could have ever imagined. I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup Final, and that I will represent my country there. I think we have come full circle, because one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Seville final in 2004.”
- “I want […] especially thank my great rivals. I spent a lot of hours with them and I experienced a lot of moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
- “Talking about my team [son staff, NDLR] is a little harder for me because at the end of the day, my team has been an important part of my life. They were by my side during all the times I needed them: very difficult times, very beautiful times, times when I needed to be pushed and times when I needed to no more respite.”
- “My uncle [Toni Nadal, NDLR] is the reason why I started playing tennis. Thanks to him, I was able to overcome many difficult situations in my sporting career.”
- “And finally, you, the fans. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve made me feel. You gave me the energy I needed every moment.”
- “Really, everything I’ve experienced has been a dream come true. I leave with absolute peace of mind to have given the best of myself, in all areas, so I can only end by saying a thousand thanks to everyone and see you soon.”
– AFP
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