Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from professional tennis at the Davis Cup on Tuesday, saying he had left a sports and personal legacy. The 38-year-old was lost in the first singles rubber of the quarterfinals, as the Netherlands defeated Spain 2-1 to go to the last four. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, has had a spectacular and remarkable career over the past 23 years. “I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I truly believe is not only sporting but also personal,” Nadal told fans in Malaga during a ceremony commemorating his retirement. “I recognize that the affection I have gotten, even if it was only for what transpired on the court,
Nadal thanked everyone who helped him along the road, including his uncle Toni Nadal, who trained him as a child and for much of his professional career. “The titles and numbers are there, so others probably know that, but the way that I would like to become remembered more is like someone nice, from a small village in Mallorca,” said Nadal.
“I only wanted to be recognized as an honest individual, a kid that followed their goals and achieved (regardless) more than I had dreamed.”Nadal was honored with a film montage on the many screens across the Martin Carpena arena in Malaga, where over 10,000 fans watched his career come to an end.
Former rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Serena Williams, and other tennis greats contributed words to the video, as did former Spanish footballers Raul and Andres Iniesta, who retired in October. The Spaniard stated that he hoped to be a “good ambassador” for tennis in the years ahead and was not frightened to begin his retirement.