"What I am most proud of is having finished my career and having left tennis with the satisfaction of feeling appreciated and loved. It is the satisfaction of having done things well, not only by hitting the racket, but also on a human level, which in the end is much more important. And the other thing I am most satisfied with, the only thing that in the end has always mattered to me, is finishing tournaments and returning home with the peace of mind of having done what was in my hands to do it in the best way possible."
ADVERTISEMENT
With these words, Rafael Nadal talked in a long and moving video about his tennis farwell, which will take place in a few days at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. And it is precisely the Spanish city - specifically the Palacio de Deportes Jos Mara Martn Carpen, better known as Palacio de los Deportes Ciudad de Mlaga - that has honored the legendary Spanish champion, with a giant photo of Rafa that covers the entire front of the stadium. On a blue background stand out the simple but touching words: "Thank you Rafa," with an image of the 22-time Grand Slam champion. A well-deserved tribute, which will surely warm Nadal's heart, in the last days of his glorious career.
The Davis Cup Finals are scheduled from November 19 to 24, but it is not yet clear whether Rafa will be able to take the field in singles: it will be a decision that he and captain David Ferrer will make together, evaluating every factor. Ferrer, in a recent interview with MARCA, expressed his opinion on the possibility that his legendary countryman has of playing the Finals.
"The fact that Rafa is retiring makes me sad, but I am excited to share this moment with him and the rest of the team. Rafa was always the first to support the whole team when I played in Davis Cup, he is a silent leader. I have a lot of confidence in Rafa, because I know his honesty and he will be able to evaluate if he can compete at his best or not. I think he is ready to play, after talking to him. He is training and I am always in contact with his coach Carlos Moya. They update me every day. I will decide in Malaga, when I see how he trains. The same goes for the other players. If Rafa trains at a good level and is physically well, it is a valid option. I did not cry when I retired, but I could do it with Rafa. I am emotional and it would be nice if it ended well. It is not something we can control though. What happens in Malaga will not change his life or his career," analyzed the Spanish captain.
