Boris Becker cries, Serena Williams thanks, and the press bows to tennis legend Rafael Nadal, whose unique career is now over.
Boris Becker (on X): “I’m crying as we speak. What an absolute icon of sport! There will never be another like Rafa! A role model for so many children around the world! Thank you, Rafa.”
Serena Williams (on Instagram): “Congratulations on a career that most don’t even dare to dream of. I was lucky enough to play when you played and were great. You inspired me to be better, to play harder to play, fight, never give up and win more. No excuses, just do the sport. Wow, watching your career from the beginning to today was an honor, champ!
Roger Federer (before Nadal’s last game on X): “What an incredible career you’ve had. With 14 French Open titles – historic! You’ve made Spain proud… you’ve made the whole tennis world proud.”
Mark (Spain): “It was a November 19th that has already gone down in the history of sport. Rafa Nadal played the last game of his brilliant and incomparable professional career. Day R, the day of Rafa Nadal’s retirement, began with tears Emotion and ended with tears of sadness because the legend said goodbye.”
Sports World (Spain): “Thank you, Rafa, forever!” “Nadal’s legacy consists not only of triumphs and trophies, but also of the spirit that defined his career. Commitment, intensity, effort, self-improvement and solidarity were his main companions. He never gave up and always left everything on the pitch. Rafa Nadal is truly a role model for an athlete. His legacy is extraordinary and the day that Spain lost in the Davis Cup remains in people’s retinas and memories.”
AS (Spain): “Thank you, thank you and thank you a thousand times.”
“Without a doubt a surreal career is coming to an end”
The Team (France): “Rafael Nadal capped a phenomenal career in Malaga. In addition to the dizzying numbers and the 22 Grand Slams he won, the Spaniard built his legend through toughness and extreme belief in himself over more than 20 Years built up to leave a mark and an emptiness today.”
The Guardian (England): “In reality, Nadal would only have been used as a doubles player in Spain’s best team. But he is one of the greatest players of all time and the sight of him stepping onto the court for a final fight was more meaningful for the 11,000 spectators than any victory.”
Sports Gazette (Italy): “Without a doubt, a surreal career is coming to an end here and the people of Malaga, and probably all over the world, are paying their last sporting honor to the warrior of Mallorca.”
