Davis Cup Finals: "Want to be Remembered as Good Person" - Rafael Nadal Reacts After Final Career Match

Add as a preferred source on Google

Rafael Nadal bid aideu to tennis as fans saluted their retiring hero in a bittersweet and emotional ceremony at a sold-out Malaga arena following the Spanish great's final professional match in Spain's 2-1 Davis Cup defeat to the Netherlands on Tuesday (November 19).

After his last career match that ended in defeat to Netherlands' Botic van de Zandschulp and Spain's exit from the Davis Cup, Nadal tried fighting back tears as he gave a near 15-minute speech that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday (November 20).

The 22-times Grand Slam champion ended a 29-match singles winning streak in the Davis Cup and brought the curtain down on his glittering career. The 38-year-old gave an emotional speech as Spain lost to Netherlands in the Davis Cup Finals.

"I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one," Nadal told fans in Malaga in a speech during a ceremony to honour his retirement.

"I understand that the love I have received, if it was just for what happened on the court, would not be the same." Nadal later paid credit to many who have helped him along the way, including his uncle Toni Nadal, who coached him as a child and for a large part of his career.

"The titles, the numbers are there, so people probably know that, but the way that I would like to be remembered more is like a good person, from a small village in Mallorca," continued Nadal.

"I had the luck that I had my uncle that was a tennis coach in my village when I was a very, very small kid, and a great family that supports me in every moment...

"I just want to be remembered as a good person, a kid that followed their dreams and achieved (even) more than what I had dreamed."

A video montage celebrating Nadal's career with messages from sports greats, including his on-court rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, played on the many screens around the Martin Carpena arena in Malaga.

Serena Williams and other tennis greats also left messages in the video, alongside former Spanish football stars including Raul and Andres Iniesta, who retired from playing in October.

"I leave the world of professional tennis having encountered many good friends along the way," said Nadal in his emotional speech.

"I am calm because I have received an education to take on what is coming next," he explained. "I have a great family around me who help me with everything that I need every day."