On the occasion of the final phase of the 2024 Davis Cup, which will mark the end of Rafael Nadal's career, 20 Minutes is publishing a series of articles on the tennis legend with 22 Grand Slam titles. Today, time for testimonials from our readers.
Farewells are often a time to remember the most beautiful moments. So on the occasion of the retirement of Rafael Nadal during the final phase of the Davis Cup this week in Malaga, the readers of 20 Minutes immersed themselves in their memories of “El Matador”, often linked to Roland-Garros.
The red clay at Porte d'Auteuil is in fact the epicenter of the love growing between our readers and the master of clay, like that of his first exploits. It doesn't matter the age, or the year. As for Nicolas, who was only seven years old when he saw Rafael Nadal for the first time, in 2005: “I saw Rafa winning and above all running all over this ocher-colored earth and shouting at each shot as if his life depended on it. The impression of power and tenacity that came out of his game managed to impress me even at my young age. »
Roland-Garros, his home in France
Stéphane waited three additional editions of Roland-Garros to feel this love at first sight. “In 2008, he crushed and trampled the competition. This edition was a demonstration never seen before where only Djokovic in the half gave him the three tightest sets. That day, I told myself that a monster was really being born. » Others, like Dimitri, took much longer to appreciate the Spaniard's exploits, and the feelings he developed towards him. “It was during the 2017 Roland Garros final that I first fell in love with tennis and especially with the man who would win the tournament: Rafael Nadal. His level of play was insane, especially on forehands down the line, and the feat was absolutely unprecedented and incredible: ten times the same Grand Slam,” he recalls.
Some of our readers even had the chance to discover it before the general public at Roland-Garros, like Serge, during a tournament at the Aix-en-Provence country club in 2003. “From the first strokes of the rackets, I understood that a great champion had been born: the physique of a gladiator, a devastating forehand… We know the rest…”, he confides. Céline had the chance to see him for the first time during a Davis Cup, already against France in the Nîmes Arena, according to her memories. “The first time I saw him play, he appeared as a teenager full of energy. He didn't win the game, I seem to remember. He simply impressed my retina with his creative, powerful and innovative Thursday. The bull of Manacor in the arena,” she remembers. The reality differs a little, but not the substance of the matter: the arenas were those of Alicante, and Nadalito had sent Arnaud Clément waltzing in just right to eliminate the Blues.
A “Spanish kéké”, with a devastating physique
No matter the location, in the end, it was above all his warrior behavior on the courts that captivated the hearts of our readers. “His game was flamboyant, his renunciation non-existent. His look was almost naive,” explains Céline when Patricia appreciates “his look certainly, but above all his anger, he fought on every point and that hasn’t changed.”
“His atypical physique, very muscular compared to the other players. His power of play, his lasso effect forehand, his mannerisms before serving, the way of placing his two bottles in just the right place, his personality, his humility, his fair play, his respect for each person and for the game , his love of the game,” Mélanie finally sums up.
Well, some of you didn't quite sense the potential of the kid from Majorca during his first racquet swings. But everyone has the right to make mistakes, right Pierre? “The Nadal of his beginnings, I would have sworn that he was a Spanish kéké who was going to make the headlines for his escapades and to be nothing but a flash in the pan sportingly… and he turned out to be a monster of work, perfectionism, longevity, sportsmanship in the noblest sense of the word, inspired by tennis and inspiring for millions of people. For all this Mr. Nadal, thank you… and sorry. »
Moments of life
Rafael Nadal also allowed you to overcome some difficult challenges in life, like for Christiane, who was in a cast and suffering martyrdom in June 2005. “To cope with all this I spent my afternoons following the tennis matches. Seeing this young man, who looked like my elder, playing with such intensity and enthusiasm gave me the strength to overcome my pain and find meaning in life despite the difficulties and after-effects that I would have to overcome. until the end of my days,” she confides.
But June also rhymes with baccalaureate, and if it could have caused some bad grades for some of our readers, above all they remain magnificent anecdotes. “The best memory was leaving a communion in 2007 to supposedly prepare for my philosophy baccalaureate, and finally, I spent my late afternoon watching the King win his third Roland Garros… And finally, I got 14 in philosophy without revising,” relishes Anthony.
Julien recounts an almost similar experience: “The first time I saw Rafael Nadal play, I was revising my Spanish oral and I came across this completely atypical player with an Apache look. After 4 high-flying sets, Nadal won his first title at Porte d'Auteuil and I said to myself “wow this guy is incredible, I'm a fan”. As a result, I got 16/20 on my Spanish oral… it clicked when I heard it in an interview.” Different places, years and feelings, but the same desire, that of saying “thank you” to Rafael Nadal before seeing him bow out
