Rafael Nadal and his family were in tears on Tuesday night as one of sport’s greatest icons waved goodbye to his elite craft at the Davis Cup.
Spain were knocked out of the quarter-finals to the Netherlands after Nadal lost his match, Carlos Alcaraz won his, but then Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers were defeated in the doubles.
A video tracing through the highlights of his incredible career with tributes from the likes of Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and David Beckham left few eyes dry.
The Spanish veteran, 38, was moved by the video and lingered on court draped in red, yellow, and white as he gave his final 12-minute speech to 11,500 adoring fans. The famous headband, by this point, was off.
Nadal had lost 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp on the indoor hard court in Malaga. That proved the final curtain on a 23-year tour de force which has seen him claim 22 Grand Slams, a total bettered in the men’s game only by Novak Djokovic’s 24.
‘The titles, numbers, they’re there. People probably know that. The way I’d like to be remembered more is like a good person from a small village in Mallorca,’ Nadal said in his farewell address.
Rafael Nadal was in tears as he bowed out of his legendary career in a Davis Cup defeat
The 38-year-old was defeated 6-4, 6-4 in his final match as Spain lost to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup
David Beckham was among the stars to pay tribute to Nadal in a tear-jerking video
His wife Maria Francisca Perello was joined in the stands by their two-year-old son Rafal Nadal Jr., who the legendary star held after Alcaraz had won the middle match.
Alongside them were his fashionista sister Maria Isabel Nadal, his mother Ana Maria Parera, and wife Maria’s mum Maria Pascual. So too his father was there, Sebastian Nadal Homar, and he wiped away droplets from his eyes.
The video with tributes from the great and good of sport highlighted the tremendous legacy he leaves behind.
‘The passion and intensity that you played with was something that I think all tennis players aspire to and what all tennis fans will remember you for. It’s been incredible watching you,’ said Murray.
Novak Djokovic said: ‘Your tenacity, your fighting spirit, the energy that you brought, the power, is something that will be studied and is something that will be transferred to many, many generations that are coming up.
‘I’ve been very honoured and thrilled to be called your rival. The tennis and sport world will miss the incredible energy that you brought on the court. There is so much to embrace, so much to celebrate.’
Serena Williams added: ‘Gosh, you have meant so much in my career, you have inspired me to have so many wins, to keep going, to fight, to get better, to improve, to basically play like you. My goodness, you will be missed.’
And in Spanish, former star of Nadal’s beloved Real Madrid David Beckham said: ‘Hello, my friend. Congratulations on your incredible career. A kiss to you and your family.’
His wife Maria Francisca Perello (centre) sat with their son Rafael Nadal Jr, his sister Maria Isabel Nadal (right), and mother Ana Maria Parera (left)
Nadal said he would rather be remembered as a ‘good person from a small village in Mallorca’
The Spaniard has won 22 Grand Slams in his career but could not extend his stay in the sport
Nadal was consoled by his Spanish team-mates after the heartbreaking end in Malaga
Andy Murray said that Nadal will be remembered for his ‘passion and intensity’
Others such as Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Rodri, and Conchita Martinez gave their words to the video.
This was a theatrical occasion. Ahead of the tie the Spain players trooped out one by one, then in the tunnel there appeared a slash of white in the darkness and then Nadal emerged.
Nadal cried as the Spanish national anthem played, with thousands of home supporters packed into the Martin Carpena Arena.
During the warm-up the announcer went through all of Nadal’s Grand Slam titles and each was cheered to the steel rafters. It took a while, especially when they reached the French Open. ‘Champion de Roland Garros dos mille cinco’ – ‘ OLE!’ – ‘Dos mille siete’ – ‘OLE’ and so on 14 times.
But this chapter ended in the way they dreaded, and so bowed out a force of nature.
Asked if it had been a satisfying end, the fiercest competitor this sport has ever known replied: ‘No, satisfying is giving a point to the team. It was not the case, I lost my match.
‘But in this moment of my career, I can’t complain much. I tried my best, I tried to enjoy it and play with the right energy. It just didn’t work.
‘It’s in some ways good if that was my last match: I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one. So we close the circle.’