A world star of sport is leaving the stage: Rafael Nadal says goodbye next week at the Davis Cup Final 8 in his hometown of Malaga.
Superlatives are hardly enough to describe the sensational tennis career of the 38-year-old Mallorcan. “Rafa,” as he is called by his fans, is not just the definition of a fighter. His modesty, which remained until the end, brought him a lot of sympathy alongside all his successes.
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When he started playing tennis in the small town of Manacor at the age of just 4, he preferred playing football for a long time. But Nadal had early success in tennis, and thanks to his ambitious long-term coach and uncle Toni, the path to becoming a professional was soon set. Nadal started his first two tournaments in 2001 when he was just 15, and in 2002 he improved to ATP rank 200.
Nadal’s big breakthrough came in 2005 with eleven tournament victories, including winning his first French Open title as a debutant. A star was born.
Better than Djokovic without injuries?
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With 22 Grand Slam victories and a dominance in Roland Garros that was not thought possible with 14 triumphs there alone, he only has to rank behind Novak Djokovic (24) in what is probably the most important tennis record.
Even more would have been possible for Nadal: the left-hander with the whipped forehand and a very complex, exhausting playing style missed no fewer than 15 major tournaments due to injuries or illnesses, ten of them by 2016. In a direct comparison of the “big three”, Roger was able to Federer (20 titles) only did not compete six times, Djokovic was only absent once in the last 79 majors due to injuries (two more due to refused Covid-19 vaccination).
“I’m not one to think what would have happened without the injuries. I wanted to be the best, but I was never obsessed with it,” Nadal said in an interview with Spanish newspaper As in October.
Foto: © getty
“I feel very lucky”
“I recently discussed it with Roger: in the middle of your career you want to win everything, but in the end I don’t feel a bit happier because I won 22 major titles and he won 20. And I wouldn’t be happier either , if I had 25, one more than Djokovic.
“I feel very lucky, despite the injuries. All these setbacks have only made me appreciate every positive moment even more.”
The last two years in particular have been very difficult for Nadal, as he admitted in his resignation video on October 10th. A few weeks later he had already gained some distance.
Participation in the Davis Cup still uncertain
“I’m proud to leave the sport feeling recognized and valued, not only by the fans who are most focused on success, but also by the people closest to me. People will too be happy when they see me watching a tournament.”
Nadal doesn’t expect a fairytale ending at the Davis Cup. It is also quite possible that it will no longer be used at all. He still doesn’t think he’s missed the right time to stop.
“In sport, it’s hard to stop at the top when you’re healthy and in great shape, unless you don’t love the sport anymore. It’s hard to stop when you’re at 100 percent and still winning.”
“I played against Novak more times than anyone else, but my biggest rival was Roger”
For Nadal, Roger Federer was his biggest rival.
Unforgettable rivalries
The rivalry with Federer (24:16 victories for Nadal) and Djokovic (29:31 victories) shaped the career of the man who was an additional power on clay. “I played against Novak more times than anyone else, but my biggest rival was Roger. He was the first of the three of us. Against Roger it was perhaps the contrast of our playing styles.
“Novak has improved every year, his numbers are the best and he has been mostly injury-free. This has allowed him to maintain his physical, mental and tennis level longer. That’s why he is the best and he deserves it.”
The clay court king also prevented himself from being dethroned twice – at the French Open in 2018 and 2019 by finalist Dominic Thiem, who ended his career a few weeks before him at just 31.
The man of rituals
Nadal was also known for a variety of on-court rituals. So he always placed his drink bottles in a diagonal line, one of them chilled, the other not, and always drank from them alternately. He never stepped on the lines between the points; when he crossed them he always went with his right foot first – that’s how he always entered the pitch.
His many plucking in various places before his own service will also remain unforgettable. This list is far from complete. However, he was spared the nickname “Monk”.
Foto: © getty
Syndrome almost prevented a world career
It would also be inappropriate given his performance on the pitch. In addition, there is a painful long-term injury called Müller-Weiss syndrome, in which parts of the bone die in the scaphoid bone of the foot – since 2005, Nadal has been tormenting himself with special insoles and countless treatments in his left foot. In relation to this, of the many outstanding moments, the first one he mentions when looking back is Roland Garros 2006.
“That was the first year after my foot injury. I don’t want to sound dramatic, but back then we honestly didn’t believe that I would ever be able to play competitively again.”
There is almost nothing that Nadal hasn’t won. A total of 92 titles, including, in addition to the majors, 36 ATP 1000 titles as well as single Olympic gold in 2008 and double gold in 2016. A title at the ATP Finals is the only piece in the mosaic that belongs to the Spaniard, who was also number 209 for 209 weeks 1 in the world was missing.
“If I could start over again, I would definitely change a few things. But in the end I almost always did what I had to – live every moment with enthusiasm, passion, intensity and always try to keep improving. What “What I have achieved fills me with great satisfaction. I leave knowing that I have given everything.”
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