On an ordinary Thursday, 38-year-old tennis star Rafael Nadal emotionally prepared the sports world for his retirement announcement with a video message on his X (formerly Twitter) account. The King of Clay continued his decision with the words, “Everything has a beginning and an end.”
“A career longer than I could have ever imagined.”
When Rafael Nadal announced his retirement in October, it marked the beginning of an emotional period for all sports fans and tennis enthusiasts.
Throughout his career, Nadal achieved significant individual and team successes, making history as the first athlete to win 22 Grand Slam titles. Fourteen of these victories came on the clay courts, at Roland Garros, which cemented his legendary title as the “King of Clay.”
In 2021, a statue made entirely of steel was erected in his honor at Roland Garros, a symbol of his unforgettable legacy in Paris.
Smart, Agile, and Ethical
In addition to his numerous awards, Nadal’s Olympic successes are also noteworthy. He won a gold medal in men’s singles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and another in men’s doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, representing Spain and participating in four Olympic Games with rare accomplishments. As for the Davis Cup? He helped Spain win the prestigious trophy four times. With 92 ATP titles, including 63 clay court victories, Nadal’s career is nothing short of extraordinary.
Beyond his accolades, Nadal is an important figure in terms of sportsmanship. It’s no surprise that he has a loyal fan base across various age groups. His constant resilience in battling injuries and making comebacks, his work ethic on the court, his humility, his iconic winning gestures, his friendly rivalries with stars like Federer and Djokovic, and his philanthropic efforts, including promoting sports among children through his foundation, make him a true role model.
“Don’t retire, my friend, stay with us!”
Having started playing tennis at the age of 3 and turning professional at 15, Nadal highlighted the challenges he faced over the past two years, explaining in his farewell video how difficult it has been to play without limitations. In the emotional video, he expressed his deepest gratitude to his rivals, team, wife, sister, and young son. Following a match with Djokovic at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh this past October, Djokovic’s words to Nadal echoed across the sports media: “Don’t retire, my friend, stay with us! You’ve inspired millions of kids to take up tennis, which I believe is the greatest success anyone can hope for. Your legacy will live on forever.”
“Mil gracias a todos”
In the global press, Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo headlined “Gracias Rafa” (Thank you, Rafa), while French sports paper L’Equipe wrote “Et la terre s’arrêta” (And the earth stopped), paying tribute to the King of Clay. In his farewell message, Nadal concluded with a heartfelt “Mil gracias a todos,” meaning “Thank you very much to all.”
Nadal’s final tennis tournament will be the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, taking place from November 19-24 in Malaga, Spain. He expressed his excitement to represent his country one last time, reflecting on how his first major joy as a professional tennis player came during the 2004 Davis Cup in Seville. With these words, Nadal ensured that November would have a special place in the hearts of tennis fans.
So, for us, Rafa, Mil gracias a todos…
Resources:
https://aposto.com/s/her-sey-baslar-her-sey-biter-tesekkurler-nadal
https://www.eurosport.com.tr/tenis/rafael-nadal-emeklilik-karari-aldi_sto10365189/story.shtml
https://gazeteoksijen.com/spor/rafael-nadal-emekli-olacagini-acikladi-225119
https://www.tovima.com/sports/emotional-farewell-by-tennis-great-rafael-nadal/
https://www.biography.com/athletes/rafael-nadal
https://www.tovima.com/sports/emotional-farewell-by-tennis-great-rafael-nadal/
https://www.izmirdesondakika.com.tr/rafael-nadal-kariyerine-davis-cup-ile-veda-ediyor