Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 16:59
Rafael Nadal Parera (Manacor, 1986) put an end to an era in the place where his tennis history began. The Spaniard, an icon of resilience, wrote his last chapter with the racket, closing a stage that will take him away from the courts forever as a professional tennis player. His last moan took place in the Davis Cup, where he debuted as standard bearer 24 years ago and where he had to say goodbye as a legend. An almost perfect circle with a bittersweet goodbye. Because he said goodbye competing, as he did throughout his extensive career. A definitive retirement from the front line of competition, at the age of 38, imposed by biology and multiple injuries that, although late, made him stop after a last dance at the Martín Carpena. He left through the same door through which he gained glory and presented himself to the world in that 2004 Davis Cup played in Seville, the first of the five that he has in his record. In his final farewell to tennis, he accumulated in his admirable career, full of dedication and sacrifice, 92 individual ATP titles, including 22 Grand Slams, of which 14 were Roland Garros, two Olympic gold medals and two Laver Cups.
Davis was the starting station and the ending station for one of the great athletes in history. «The match against Andy Roddick in the 2004 final is one of those that marked my career and I will never forget it. I think I won because the crowd was there to support me; “It was essential,” recalled Nadal at the time who, at just 18 years old, was chosen to play the second individual match in that final against the one baptized as ‘Nebraska Gunner’, leader of the US and number 2 in the world that year, and who A few months earlier he had beaten the Balearic Islander decisively in the US Open (6-0, 6-3 and 6-4). In a great match at La Cartuja, Nadal took the victory (6-7, 6-2, 7-6) to make it 2-0. The Armada lost in the doubles, but Moyá made it 3-1 to win the Salad Bowl. The youngest Spanish player to debut in a Davis Cup, at 17 years and 248 days old, the Spaniard changed the trajectory of his career in the tournament of his debut as a professional.
In their history there are 37 victories and six defeats, an overwhelming record that is even more so if you look at the individual duels. On that scoreboard there are 29 wins and two losses. Nadal’s first singles came curiously in his debut in the competition, when he was still 17 years old and lost against the Czech Jiri Novak (7-6, 6-3, 7-6) in the first round of the legendary 2004 Davis Cup, where also the next day he fell in doubles with Tommy Robredo.
The Spaniard counted his first two matches as a doubles player in defeat, against the Czech Republic and Holland, and added his first victory in doubles that same year against France. In 2005 he repeated as a doubles player with a defeat against Slovakia in the first round partnering with Albert Costa, and with a defeat against Italy in five sets together with Feliciano López, current director of the Davis Cup Finals.
A good part of those victories – 22 – were on his favorite surface, where he always performed best. He triumphed 14 times on hard court and once on carpet.
Since 2005, the tennis player from Manacor counts his doubles matches in the Davis Cup by victories, partnering with Fernando Verdasco, with whom he added victories against Italy in 2006 and in the quarterfinals against Denmark in 2015, and with Marc López, with whom In addition to winning Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games, he has achieved two victories against Ukraine in the 2013 playoff and in the doubles match against India in 2016, which allowed Spain to return to the Davis Cup World Group after several years in obscurity. In 2019, the tennis player played his last doubles matches in the tournament, first with Marcel Granollers as a partner against Croatia and Argentina; and later with Feliciano López against Great Britain. Spain, before its appearance, had only won one of the Salad Bowls, that of 2000 at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.
At just 18 years old, the Balearic player debuted in the Davis Cup and was instrumental in achieving the title. In the final duel against the United States he defeated Andy Roddick in the second game, which helped secure the victory. Spain took the final 3-2.
Nadal, already established as one of the best players in the world, participated in the group stage, helping Spain reach the final, although he did not play in the final due to an injury to his right knee. Despite his absence, Spain heroically defeated Argentina 3-1 in the final in Mar de Plata.
Once again he was fundamental in the final victory and key in the development of the first rounds. The Mallorcan defeated Novak Djokovic in three sets and gave Spain the final point against Serbia. Already in the final, La Armada showed why it is number 1 in the world in the ITF ranking in the most important team competition in the world. The Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona was once again a talisman and won its fourth Saladera in just nine years, the second in a row.
The tennis player from Manacor repeated as the protagonist in the final against Argentina, defeating Juan Martín del Potro in an epic five-set match. Their victory secured Spain’s fifth title with an aggregate score of 3-1. Seville was once again a key stage, and again a fantastic team to collect the fifth Saladera.
Very special year as the tournament was played in a new format. The finals took place in Madrid, and Nadal led La Armada throughout the tournament. The Spaniard was decisive in both singles and doubles. Spain beat Canada 2-0 in the final, and the Spaniard won every game he played in the tournament, establishing himself as the team’s hero.
The former world number one is the Spaniard with the best balance of games won and lost in individual duels in the Davis Cup finals. He has only lost two, in his debut and in his farewell.
«The reality is that you never want to reach this moment. I’m not tired of playing tennis. The body has simply reached a point where it no longer wants to play. I feel super privileged, I have been able to make one of my hobbies my career. “It has been an incredible privilege and a true honor to have been able to share my last week as a professional with such a wonderful team, in which there are many people with whom I have shared many of my greatest joys,” said Nadal excitedly, in his farewell in Malaga, in a pavilion packed to the brim.
