Rafael Nadal insists he is at “peace” having given tennis all he had as he prepares for his final bow as a professional.
The ultimate master of clay courts, Nadal is about to finish a career that started 23 years ago by representing Spain at the Davis Cup in Malaga, and will leave Novak Djokovic as the last of tennis’ “Big Three” still standing.
Like his great rival Roger Federer before him, Nadal’s impending retirement was not one of his own choosing, but rather his body giving him little option, although he has few regrets.
“I achieved the most important thing for me,” Nadal said, from a hotel conference centre outside Malaga. “Because this day arrived and I am at peace that I gave all I had. I played and practised since I was eight years old – I mean, I started at three – but at that age I started to work more and more with passion, with love, with the determination to be as good as possible.”
He added: “I am going to leave this professional tour with the calm and with the personal satisfaction that I give my best almost in every single moment.”
There is still all likelihood that Nadal’s anticipated final farewell will be postponed, and a small chance it may not happen at all. But as tickets on resale sites are being sold at upwards of €1,000 (£835), both the tournament and the Spanish federation will want the game to happen.
Because of the injuries that have affected the later stages of his career, it remains to be seen whether Nadal will be fit enough to play the singles, and the doubles at the Davis Cup is typically only played as a decider.
Should Spain win both singles matches against the Netherlands on Tuesday, they would go through to the next round without the need for a doubles game, and there is also the chance they could lose both, and a decision would then have to be made whether to play an exhibition of sorts, something Nadal does not want to do.
Nadal’s farewell has not only overshadowed the Billie Jean King Cup, but started to dominate the city of Malaga.
Roads leading to the arena have been adorned with signs at regular intervals proclaiming “Gracias Rafa” and there is a huge mural on the athletics track opposite the tennis stadium at the Palacio de Deportes. The standard press conference room at the Jose Maria Martín Carpena Stadium was not deemed sufficient for the interest of the world’s media, who were instead transported by coach along the coast to the team hotel.
Despite the fanfare surrounding the farewell, and while emotions crept into his voice during the press conference, Nadal remained resolute on the tennis.
“The most important thing here is try to help the team and to stay focused on what we have to do, that is play tennis and do it very well. So the emotions are going to be for the end, and, before and during, it’s to be focused on what we need to do.”
Nadal will bow out of tennis having won 22 grand slams, including a record 14 at Roland Garros and 92 ATP Tour titles. The player who has become synonymous with clay, perhaps more so than any other player on any surface in history, losing just three matches at Roland Garros, is coming to terms with his own retirement.
“I am not worried about the next chapter in my life,” he said. “I have always been happy without tennis, and I had a lot of moments in my life that I was not able to play tennis because of injuries, so I spent a lot of months doing other things.”
Despite that, Nadal admitted he will miss the adrenalin of professional sport, as tennis contemplates its future without two of the three giants of the game who have dominated the sport for the last two decades.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
