Roger Federer pens emotional tribute on eve of Rafael Nadal's final tournament
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Rafael Nadal Retires From Tennis After Spain's Davis Cup Loss
Above: Rafael Nadal waves to the fans after losing his singles match during the Davis Cup at the Palacio de Deportes arena on Nov. 19, 2024, in Málaga, Spain. Image copyright: Matt McNulty/Stringer/Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
The Facts
Rafael Nadal's decorated 23-year tennis career ended after Spain was knocked out of the Davis Cup quarterfinals by the Netherlands on Tuesday.
Before losing 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp, Nadal had only lost one match at the event — the first he ever played — before going undefeated over a span of 29 matches over 20 years.
The Spin
Narrative A
Nadal wanted to be remembered simply as "a kid who followed his dreams." In spite of the Spaniard's humility, Nadal, with all his achievements, will no doubt go down as one of the best to ever pick up a tennis racket in history.
Narrative B
It's no surprise that Nadal chose this event to end his career. He missed large chunks of the last two seasons due to injury and was forced to come to the sad reality that his body could no longer perform at the highest levels required to maintain a successful tennis career.