Ever the fighter, ever the competitor, ever the champion. As Rafael Nadal called time on his professional career he left tennis fans with one last left backhand stroke – a farewell speech so well crafted; orchestrated to serve as he perfect match winner.
All his accolades over the 20+ years of sublime tennis artistry and pure emotion across all three seasons of court surfaces, it was his delivery of the farewell speech – his last act – that almost seemed like his best ever form.
Nadal articulated his love of the game, his reverence of rivals who in their way created his Legend, his family – mother, wife & son, sister and Papa.
(L-R) Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
His team of coaches, trainers – the Amigos – who shared in his greatest moments and stood with him through the lows.
Nadal then closed with a bow to the fans. Globally, anyone who watched the Spaniard play and cheered him on or resented him for his doggedness as he combats their fave, he said a gracious thank you at the end.
This glorious journey isn’t all to familiar and not to many, because not all greats are iconic, but Rafael Nadal is cut from every piece of that stone – A Colossus, who’d forever be remembered as King of the Clay.
