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Spain's Rafael Nadal acknowledges the crowd after he was defeated by Spain's Carlos Alcaraz during their semi-final tennis match in the "6 Kings Slam" exhibition tournament in Riyadh on October 17, 2024. Fayez Nureldine, AFP/File

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Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17320703324131731930144948AFP__20241017__36KC4RH__v1__Preview__Tennis6KingsSlamExhibitionTournament.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Spain&#x27;s Rafael Nadal acknowledges the crowd after he was defeated by Spain&#x27;s Carlos Alcaraz during their semi-final tennis match in the "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="white-space:pre-wrap">Spain&#x27;s Rafael Nadal acknowledges the crowd after he was defeated by Spain&#x27;s Carlos Alcaraz during their semi-final tennis match in the &quot;6 Kings Slam&quot; exhibition tournament in Riyadh on October 17, 2024. <em>Fayez Nureldine, AFP/File</em></span></span></span></span></div><div><span id="isPasted" style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">Rafael Nadal said he has left both a sporting and personal legacy after retiring from professional tennis on Tuesday at the Davis Cup.</span></span><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr"></span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">The 38-year-old was beaten in the opening singles rubber of the quarter-finals as Netherlands defeated Spain 2-1 to reach the final four.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, enjoyed a glittering and historic career over the past 23 years.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one,&quot; Nadal told fans in Malaga in a speech during a ceremony to honor his retirement.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"></span><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;I understand that the love I have received, if it was just for what happened on the court, would not be the same.&quot;</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">Nadal paid credit to many who have helped him along the way, including his uncle Toni Nadal, who coached him as a child and for a large part of his career.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;The titles, the numbers are there, so people probably know that, but the way that I would like to be remembered more is like a good person, from a small village in Mallorca,&quot; continued Nadal.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;I had the luck that I had my uncle that was a tennis coach in my village when I was a very, very small kid, and a great family that supports me in every moment...</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;I just want to be remembered as a good person, a kid that followed their dreams and achieved (even) more than what I had dreamed.&quot;</span></span></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ze5iNlCPFEk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">Nadal was celebrated with a video montage on the many screens around the Martin Carpena arena in Malaga where over 10,000 fans saw his career come to a close.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">Former rival Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Serena Williams and other tennis greats left messages in the video, alongside former Spanish football stars including Raul and Andres Iniesta, who retired from playing in October.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;I leave the world of professional tennis having encountered many good friends along the way,&quot; said Nadal in his emotional speech.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">The Spaniard said he hoped to be a &quot;good ambassador&quot; for tennis in the years to come and was not afraid to begin his retirement.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;I am calm because I have received an education to take on what is coming next,&quot; he explained.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;I have a great family around me who help me with everything that I need every day.&quot;</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr"><strong>&#x27;ETERNAL&#x27; </strong></span></span><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr"><strong></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">After Nadal lost to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-4, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (7/0), 6-3 to force a doubles decider.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof secured a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) victory over Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers to bring the curtain down on Nadal&#x27;s career.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">World number three Alcaraz, 21, is one of the game&#x27;s brightest talents and a player some hope can become Nadal&#x27;s heir.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;His legacy is going to be eternal,&quot; Alcaraz told reporters.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;He has been great for tennis, for the sport in general, it is difficult -- at least for me -- to feel that I should continue the legacy that he has left.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;It is difficult, almost impossible, I will just try to do my best, right now it&#x27;s time to say great things about Rafa... </span></span><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">It is just great to have had Rafa in tennis, in Spain and in my life.&quot;</span></span></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3aW6BbWtLX8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">Nadal fought hard in his final match in front of huge home support but ultimately came up short.</span></span><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr"></span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;He gave everything he had in the tank, all of his energy... it&#x27;s sad to see him go but we have to accept it,&quot; added Alcaraz.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">Spain&#x27;s Davis Cup captain David Ferrer also paid tribute to Nadal.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;There are people who will be remembered for their achievements in life, others until the end of their days, and others eternally,&quot; said Ferrer.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;You will be remembered eternally.&quot;</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/11/19/federer-hails-historic-nadal-ahead-of-imminent-retirement-1806">Tennis: Federer hails &#x27;historic&#x27; Nadal ahead of imminent retirement</a></span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">Nadal thanked fans in Spain in his speech but also around the rest of the world where he found many admirers.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">In Paris, where he won a record 14 French Open titles and earned the nickname the &#x27;King of Clay&#x27;, his image was projected onto the night sky in front of the Eiffel Tower.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr">&quot;I am crying as we speak... Rafael Nadal... What an absolute icon of sport period! There will never be another one like Rafa!&quot; wrote former world number one Boris Becker on social media platform X.</span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span dir="ltr"><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></span></span></div>

<p>Rafael Nadal, whose career ended on Tuesday when Spain were knocked out of the Davis Cup, was the "King of Clay" who also reigned on every other surface as he accumulated 22 Grand Slam titles. </p>

Rafael Nadal, whose career ended on Tuesday when Spain were knocked out of the Davis Cup, was the "King of Clay" who also reigned on every other surface as he accumulated 22 Grand Slam titles.

After long fight for glory, Nadal leaves with a legacy of memories

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After long fight for glory, Nadal leaves with a legacy of memories

Agence France-Presse

Published November 20, 2024 10:46 AM PHT

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Updated November 21, 2024 04:14 AM PHT

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