Rafael Nadal wasn't the only one in tears during his Davis Cup farewell speech

TENNIS – An uninterrupted stream of tears. Modern tennis legend, Rafael Nadal definitively bowed out this Tuesday, November 19 after a final defeat in the Davis Cup quarter-final. The opportunity for the Spanish player with 14 titles at Roland Garros to say goodbye to the world of tennis.

At home, in Spain, in front of an audience logically committed to his cause, “ Rafa » took advantage of a ceremony in his honor to address a few words to the public, particularly moved to have experienced the last match in the career of one of the legends of Spanish sport.

“It didn’t end the way we all would have liked”he slipped between two streams of tears, nevertheless saying to himself “ serene » by making the decision to end his career at the age of 38, after several years of serious physical hardship.

The public was not mistaken. Since the Malaga Sports Palace, which can accommodate 11,300 spectators, stood as one man for the king of clay. Present in large numbers, the Spanish spectators were even accompanied by Dutch supporters for a standing ovation which quickly transformed into a collective crying session, as the emotion was palpable when Rafael Nadal spoke.

At first smiling, the native of Manacor quickly broke his shell when it came to talking about his loved ones. With Toni Nadal in mind, his uncle and main coach during his career. “You never failed me, you made sure that I kept my feet on the ground, I left peacefully”said the tennis player, whose voice broke under the influence of emotion.

« The circle is closed »

In the images of this moment, shared by the Davis Cup, it is impossible to remain indifferent to the tears of the champion, those of his father and of an entire audience lulled by his exploits. Especially since the tributes continued with a video bringing together several big names in modern sport, all of whom had a word to say to him: Serena Williams, Andrés Iniesta, Roger Federer, David Beckham, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray…

Then it was his teammates and members of the Spanish Davis Cup team who took over, for a new round of praise and “ Thanks Rafa ». “You were our example”complimented team captain David Ferrer. “We would all have liked to never arrive at the moment when Rafa would retire”added Marcel Granollers, Nadal's long-time teammate.

It must be said that the Spaniard, like Roger Federer, has left his mark on contemporary tennis. In his 23-year career on the circuit, he has almost as many Grand Slam titles (22). But more than for “titles” or “statistics”Rafael Nadal wanted to be remembered above all as “a good person from a small village”.

“I lost my first Davis Cup match” in 2004, “I just lost my last match. The circle is closed »finally judged the 38-year-old athlete, whose lasso forehand will long be missed from the sport of which he was one of the best ambassadors.

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