Rafa Nadal He said goodbye to tennis like a legend. The Balearic tennis player gave a speech that made everyone present cry after Spain was eliminated against Holland in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. He left as one of the most beloved athletes in the world and this was demonstrated by his fans after he played his last game.
© GTRES‘My body tells me it doesn’t want to play anymore’
“Good evening everyone. I have to thank so many people. It’s difficult to start. I’ll start with those who are here. Thanks to this audience in Malaga. Honestly, it has been twenty years of professional career in which you have taken me in good times you helped me win the next point and in bad times you helped me continue fighting. I have felt very lucky to feel so much love. around the world, especially here in Spain,” began an excited Rafa Nadal on the court of the Martín Carpena sports palace in Malaga.
“I want to continue congratulating the Dutch team. Good game. And I want to thank the entire Spanish team. You have allowed me the dream I had of playing the Davis Cup again. Honestly, I have given what I had and I want to thank you for the support. No It has turned out as we all would have liked. I have spent my last days as a team as a team. It has been an incredible privilege and an honor. Thank you very much, team. Now it is your turn. The reality is that you never want to reach this moment. I’m not tired of playing tennis, but my body has reached a point where it doesn’t want to play anymore. to tennis. “I feel privileged to make this race longer than I would have imagined,” he continued, making everyone who listened to him goosebumps.
© GTRESHis family burst into tears. His sister Maribel She seemed very excited when she heard Rafa’s exciting words. his wife, Mery Perelló, with his son Rafa Jr. in armswho at the age of two witnessed his goodbye; his parents Ana María Parera and Sebastián Nadal, and even Carolina Cerezuela, the wife of Carlos Moyá, Rafa Nadal’s coach. No one could avoid tears. The Manacorí tennis player moved the entire world with his speech.
‘You have told my story, which has been beautiful’
“Thanks to the family, teams, friends… I don’t want to personalize. You have been an unforgettable part of me, day by day, during all these years. I believe that in continuity, maintaining the people who love me. That has led me to carry a personal relationship with all of you. And he continued to move people with his words, without forgetting anyone, not the Federation, not the sponsors, not the journalists. “I don’t want to forget the media. You have accompanied me all over the world. You have treated me great most of the time. I have always felt very well treated. The relationship has always been one of respect. You have told my story, which has been beautiful. The moments in general have been good and unforgettable,” highlighted the winner of 22 Grand Slam titles.
© GTRES“To the entire sports industry. To the ATP, ITF… Everyone. All of you who make this sport on top of the world. Keep moving masses. And I encourage you to continue on this path. I am going to retire from tennis “But I hope to continue being a great ambassador of tennis. It’s what I’ve tried my whole life. But I’ve done it with respect and humility. I’ve always tried to be a good person. pointed out an excited Rafael Nadal.
‘Whatever comes in the future will be easier to carry’
“I leave this world of professional tennis having met many friends along the way and I believe that I am a good person. I have so many people to thank. I leave with the peace of mind of having left a legacy. Sports and personal. It would not be the same the love I feel if it were not like that. Thank my family, who has never failed me. They have been there when things seemed impossible, when things were going well they have kept me grounded. Whatever comes in the future will be even more so. easy to carry. All changes involve a process of adaptation, and I am calm because I have received an education that allows me to face what comes with peace of mind, I have a great family around me that helps me with everything I need on a daily basis.
“The titles, the numbers are there, people know it, but the way I would like to be remembered is as a good person from a small town in Mallorca who was lucky enough to have an uncle who was a football coach. tennis when I was little and a great family that has supported me at all times. A child who has followed his dreams, who has worked as hard as possible to be what I am today. There are people who try, but I am lucky because. Life has given me the opportunity to experience unforgettable things thanks to tennis. I have achieved much more than I dreamed of.
© GTRESAnd to conclude he said: “Thank you very much for staying until the end, it means a lot to me to have been able to say goodbye in Spain, in Malaga, in this case. I am more than happy and grateful for everything. I have forgotten before about my great rivals, “They have pushed me to have a much longer and more successful career than I would have had without them. I thank them for sharing so much together. I say goodbye as a professional tennis player, I hope that the person will continue here for a long time,” he concluded while the audience. chanted his name and Nadal He said goodbye shocked and with his arms raised in farewell. Nadal will not forget the last applause from his fans before leaving excited for what will be his new life. Thanks Rafa.