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.

As Rafael Nadal prepared to serve in what turned out to be the last tennis match of his career, a woman’s voice broke the silence from the stands: “You make Spain proud!” Not long after that, Nadal was wiping away tears from his face and waving goodbye to his fans.

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.

Roger Federer writes a heartfelt letter to Rafael Nadal ahead of the Spaniard’s retirement, celebrating their iconic rivalry and cherished moments on and off the court. From their epic Grand Slam battles to emotional doubles matches,

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.