Rafael Nadal and wife break down in tears after crushing farewell act

It’s officially all over for Rafael Nadal with the sport world robbed of a chance to see the Spanish legend one final time.

Rafael Nadal’s career is officially over.

An icon. A legend. A 22-time grand slam champion. The “King of Clay”. Maybe the greatest of all time.

The tennis world was robbed of one final chance to see the tennis goliath on the court as Spain was defeated 2-1 by the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-final in Malaga on Wednesday morning.

The 38-year-old was in tears before his final ever match when he went down 6-4 6-4 to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. Teammate Carlos Alcaraz kept Spain in the tie with a 7-6 6-3 win over Tallon Griekspor. But the 21-year-old couldn’t get Spain over the line when he and doubles partner Marcel Granollers were beaten 7-6 (4) 7-6 (3).

There were no signs of life in the crowd as the Dutch pair ended Nadal’s career in such an unspectacular way.

Further diminishing the occasion was the uncertainty that surrounded Nadal’s farewell with the 14-time Roland Garros champ stuck on the sideline when it was supposed to be his final moment in the spotlight.

Rafael Nadal was in tears at the start and the end. Photo: Twitter, Getty.

Spanish Davis Cup captain David Ferrer earlier made the controversial decision to leave Nadal out of the doubles team in the decisive third rubber.

Regardless of what the results were going to be in the final two matches, Nadal walked off the court knowing his career was over.

A fighter right to the bitter end, he was ready to play in the doubles if Ferrer needed him.

His final on-court interview had teammates in tears.

“The important legacy is that all the people I have met during these 20 years have a good human memory of me,” he said.

“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 went on to say: “The titles, numbers, they’re there. People probably know that.

“The way I’d like to be remembered more is like a good person from a small village in Mallorca.”

Rafael Nadal had teammates in tears. Photo: Twitter, Davis Cup.

The sad farewell was not fitting of such a goliath of the sport.

He had won 29 consecutive singles matches in the Davis Cup — his only losses being his first and last appearances to finish with a 29-2 record in the international team format.

“If I was the captain I would change me probably (if Spain reach the semi-finals), but at the end of the day it’s not my decision,” Nadal told reporters.

“And I’m sure (the captain) will make the best decision possible for the team... probably that was my last match.

“I lost my first match at the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one, so we close the circle.”

The tears started to pour before his match even started. The former world No. 1 was overcome with emotion as he stood in line with teammates as the Spanish national anthem was played.

Rafael Nadal and wife Maria Francisca Perello were in tears.Photo: Twitter and Jorge GUERRERO / AFP

It was a special moment as over 10,000 fans filled the arena with chants of “Rafa, Rafa” as the anthem ended.

“I was having an emotional day, nerves before what could be my last singles match as a professional,” added Nadal.

“The emotions hearing the national anthem for the last time as a professional were very special, mixed feelings makes things a little bit more difficult.”

His final on-court interview was pure class.

Walking off the court, hugging members of his team, the TV cameras showed footage of his wife Maria Francisca Perello in tears as she watched from inside the stadium.

Nadal’s involvement in the tie was not certain, with his career ravaged by injuries in recent years, but captain Ferrer put his trust in Nadal to do one final job.

“At the end of the day he has to make decisions and he made the decision thinking what’s the best for the team and not for myself, I respect that,” said Nadal.

Rafael Nadal may never step on the court again. Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images for ITF.

Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts in the quarter-final singles. Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP.

“We went on court, we lived that moment, trying to do my best, trying to stay as positive as possible, positive energy, it was not enough.

“Hats off to Botic, he was better than me, now it’s not necessary to analyse the match any more.”

The Netherlands will now face Germany or Canada in the semi-finals.

Nadal said earlier he was not in Malaga to retire but instead to try and help Spain win the Davis Cup for the first time since 2019.

Tennis great Roger Federer hailed his former rival before the match, saying Nadal had “made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud”.

He has certainly done that.

- With AFP