After his final appearance on the tennis court ended in a defeat on Tuesday, Rafael Nadal said that he is content with the legacy he has etched at a professional and personal level as he hangs up his boots.
The 38-year-old Nadal was defeated in the opening singles rubber of the Davis Cup quarter-finals as Netherlands downed Spain 2-1 to progress.
“I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one,” the 22-time Grand Slam winner told fans in Malaga in a post-match ceremony to honour his retirement.
“I understand that the love I have received, if it was just for what happened on the court, would not be the same.”
Nadal recollected several people in his farewell speech, including his uncle Toni Nadal who coached him for a major period since his formative years.
“The titles, the numbers are there, so people probably know that, but the way that I would like to be remembered more is like a good person, from a small village in Mallorca,” continued Nadal.
“I had the luck that I had my uncle that was a tennis coach in my village when I was a very, very small kid, and a great family that supports me in every moment. I just want to be remembered as a good person, a kid that followed their dreams and achieved (even) more than what I had dreamed.”
Several former and current players, including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Serena Williams and other tennis greats left messages in a video montage shared to commemorate Nadal’s career.
“I leave the world of professional tennis having encountered many good friends along the way,” said Nadal in his emotional speech.
“I am calm because I have received an education to take on what is coming next,” he explained.