Rafael Nadal’s Emotional Farewell at the Madrid Masters 1000

* A portion of the Majorcan’s heartfelt words

A backhand that went outside, to the doubles hall, was the last blow of Rafael Nadal, 37, on the Manolo Santana court of the Caja Mágica. The Czech Jiri Lehecka beat him 7-5 and 6-4 in two hours and one minute, and in the round of 16 he left him out of the Madrid Masters 1000, the one he knew how to win five times. It was not just another occasion: the Spaniard’s body, battered by injuries, but driven by an unbreakable mentality, offered his last performance in an emblematic setting of his career, which is heading towards its end.

That is why the ovation continued, the five flags representing each of their titles in the redoubt, that speech that tasted like a farewell, beyond the fact that they will still continue in competition, with Roland Garros as the great objective. “I don’t want to thank my family and the team because I’m not retiring. I will do that the day I retire,” the Mallorcan warned in a line of the speech that moved the audience, and during which he made a superhuman effort to contain his tears.

* The best of a match with enormous sentimental load

“Happy, it has been a very special week for me, very positive in many ways. I have had the opportunity to play here once again, on this court that has given me so much in every way, on a sporting level, and on an emotional level,” he managed to say, before the clapping surpassed the volume of the stadium with its sound. his voice.

“A few weeks ago, two days before leaving for Barcelona, ​​I didn’t know if I could compete in an official match again and I was able to play for two weeks, and it has been an unforgettable week here,” he added. “The only thing I can do is thank you, it has been an incredible journey that started when I was very little and the first time I came here to Madrid, if I’m not mistaken it was 2003, but I think the first time I arrived with… .”, he slipped, but his voice broke, and he couldn’t continue. Among those who were moved in the stands was Diego Simeone, technical director of Atlético de Madrid.

He swallowed, recovered, and continued with his speech. “The first time I became competitive I think it was in 2005, it was one of the most exciting victories I had in my career, when it was still played indoors, losing two sets to zero; From then until today it has only been unconditional support and affection from everyone here in Madrid, there is no way to thank him,” he recalled that definition before Ivan Ljubicic.

“I am fortunate in life for everything I have experienced, I cannot ask for more. I hope to have been an example for new generations. It is difficult, but my body has sent me signals that this day had to come,” she lamented, although without losing an ounce of fortitude. In fact, after bathing in the people’s affection on repeated occasions, and before leaving the track, he even allowed himself a joke: “It was a joke, I’ll be back next year.” His name is eternal, it was recorded in every stage in which he shone, like the Caja Mágica.

With information from EFE

2024-05-01 00:30:00
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