MALAGA, Spain — Rafael Nadal was the “King of Clay” who also reigned on every other surface as he accumulated 22 Grand Slam titles while his even-keeled and humble demeanour, on and off the court, endeared him to rivals and legions of fans.
That’s just one of many records and key numbers associated with the 38-year-old Nadal’s remarkable career, which will come to an end after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, AP reported.
Nadal was just 18 – and yet to win a Grand Slam title – when he first moved into the top 10 of the ATP rankings on April 25, 2005.
He remained there for 912 consecutive weeks, until March 19, 2023, nearly 18 full years, the longest run of appearances in the top 10 in the half-century-plus history of the computerized rankings in men’s tennis.
“The important legacy is that all the people I have met during these 20 years have a good human memory of me,” said the 38-year-old Spanish superstar who will retire from tennis at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
“At the end of the day, the personal issue, education, respect and the affection you can treat people with comes before the professional issue, because that is what remains,” he added according to AFP.
“If I’m on the court I hope to control my emotions. I’m not here to retire. I’m here to help the team win. It’s my last week in a team competition and the most important thing is to help the team,” Nadal said.
“The emotions will come at the end. Before and after I will be focused on what I have to do. I feel good, I’ve been thinking about it for quite some time. I’ve been trying to give myself a chance and I decided over time. I’m enjoying the week; I’m not paying much attention to the retirement thing.
“It will be a big change in my life after this week. I’m very excited and happy to be here.”
“I have the chance to retire in my country,” Nadal added according to Reuters.
“I enjoy living here in Spain and it’s something that makes me really happy. The team was already in Valencia to get into this Final Eight in Malaga and now I’m feeling incredible support from everyone.
“The kids, the press … all the people are enjoying me and are showing it to me. It’s super special.”
Asked what he would miss most about the sport, Nadal said: “Probably the feeling of competition, going on court and see the fans out there, the atmosphere when you play big matches.
“I’m probably going to have things that are going to make me happier or give me different and more important feelings, but this kind of feeling, adrenaline, it’s difficult to find outside of professional sport, I think.
“But, at the end, I achieved the most important thing for me, because I arrived at this day and I am in peace that I gave all that I had.”
Nadal amassed 92 titles and was a two-time Olympic gold medallist despite playing in an era which also boasted Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, the two other members of tennis’s dominant “Big Three” for more a decade.
Federer faced Nadal in 14 Grand Slam finals winning only four, the Swiss player ending his career with 20 majors, two fewer than the Spaniard.
Nadal’s physical playing style took a toll – injury sidelined him from at least 11 Grand Slam events.
But he kept fighting back. After the second half of his 2021 season had been wiped out, he returned to break Federer’s record at the 2022 Australian Open and added a 22nd major at the French Open just after his 36th birthday.
“If you don’t lose, you can’t enjoy victories. You have to accept both things,” Nadal said.
After that victory, he insisted he was not concerned if Djokovic broke the record.
“It’s something that does not bother me if Novak wins 23 and I stay at 22. I think my happiness will not change at all, not even one per cent.”
Djokovic won three titles the following year to take his total to 24.
Nadal faced Djokovic 60 times, the last of which was at the Paris Olympics in July in a clash which proved to be Nadal’s final competitive singles match before he announced his intention to retire.
The pair fought out the longest Grand Slam final of all time – five hours and 53 minutes at the 2012 Australian Open in which the Serb triumphed.
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