In a world of invasions and wars, of tyrannies and exoduses, the fact that a man puts down his racket, putting an end to his admirable professional tennis career, suddenly arouses global unanimity. He is not just any man, his name is Rafael Nadal, without a doubt the greatest figure in Spanish sports in its history; one of perhaps a dozen universal sports icons so far this century. One, who everyone says, was as courteous, polite and successful on the court as he was off it.
He is only 38 years old, too old, however, for the bordering on inhuman demands of highly competitive sport. His physical body sent him warnings from very early on, which worsened over the years, especially the last two. Pain has been his traveling companion for two decades, according to records this note published in the newspaper The World from Madrid. The sum of all his injuries and ailments took away 4 years and 10 months of competition, which did not prevent him from winning 22 majors (the highest level tournaments on the world circuit) and withdrawing from 16. “A statistic, the article highlights , which mixes the bravery and madness of the man and the athlete.”
Nadal never dribbled a drop of sweat —in victory, more than a thousand, or in defeat, just over two hundred— when he jumped onto a court. His fiercest rival, Novak Djokovic, still in shock at the announcement of the withdrawal, thanked that Nadal had taken him “to the limit” of his strength. Both, who faced each other 60 times, certainly none like the final of the 2012 Australian Open where the Serbian won after an epic battle of 5 hours and 53 minutes: the longest of any Grand Slam final.
Djokovic, the Swiss Roger Federer and Nadal made up what is called the Big Three: the greatest rivalry in sport, a world spectacle of beauty, discipline, unwavering effort, tears and hugs and, at the same time, recognition among them of their talent. and his professionalism. “It has been an absolute honor,” said Federer upon learning of the Spaniard’s farewell.
One last dance still awaits Nadal, at the end of November, when he will represent Spain in the Davis Cup final, which has a particular symbolism for him, and for his country. In 2004, at just 18 years old, the Balearic tennis player achieved an unexpected victory against the number one from the United States, Andy Roddick, on his way to the second Davis Cup for his country.
Meanwhile, no one is oblivious to the legend of Nadal. Australian Rod Laver, a former world tennis star, will miss seeing him “fight every point like no other.” Messi gave him an example, Cristiano Ronaldo surrendered to his impressive career. The Guardian, The World, The Team, BBC Sport, Bildcarried it on their front page, in addition to all the Spanish media. Stars of basketball, golf, motorcycle and car racing, and table tennis celebrate the tennis player’s career and mourn his retirement. And, for once, in the enraged Spanish politics, the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, and the first vice president of the government, María Jesús Montero, applaud almost together.
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