He also spent his entire career battling his own body, with Nadal’s injuries both acute and chronic carving the trajectory of his career and to an extent the way he played tennis. King of clay. Warrior.

Rafael Nadal of Team Spain gets emotional while watching a video on the giants screens during his farewell after Spain being knocked out on the quarterfinal tie between Netherlands and Spain during the Davis Cup Finals at Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena on November 19,

Nadal's late career has been a story of injuries. The long ending is a reminder of the miracle that he lasted until now

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal played the final match of his professional career Tuesday, losing 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup. Nadal, 38, announced last month that he would retire after the tournament.

Rafael Nadal was just 18 — and yet to win a Grand Slam title — when he first moved into the top 10 of the ATP rankings on April 25, 2005. He remained there for 912 consecutive weeks, until March 19, 2023,

It was an emotional farewell from tennis for Nadal this week after Spain was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup in Malaga

Rafael Nadal has issued an eight-word reply to the classy tribute he received from his great rival Novak Djokovic following his retirement. The legendary Spaniard was beaten by Botic van de Zandschulp in the final match of his remarkable career at the Davis Cup Final 8 stage this week.

In a moment that marked the end of an era, Rafael Nadal officially played his last tennis match on Tuesday at the Davis Cup, bidding an emotional farewell to the sport he dominated for over two decades.