Rafael Nadal waved farewell to an amazing career when Spain exited the Davis Cup 2024 on November 19, 2024, in Malaga.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, ended a career spanning more than two decades, having already stated his desire to retire at the end of the Davis Cup. The exit was confirmed after Dutch duo Botic van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof defeated Spain 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) in doubles, after Nadal had previously fallen 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets.
Nadal bids farewell
Nadal appeared emotional during the Spanish national anthem, and over 10,000 fans filled the arena with chants of “Rafa, Rafa,” when it ended.
“I was having an emotional day, nerves before what could be my last singles match as a professional,” said Nadal.
“The emotions of hearing the national anthem for the last time as a professional were very special.”
Nadal’s legacy lives on
The Spaniard, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, earned the nickname “King of Clay” for his complete dominance at the French Open. The 38-year-old won 14 titles in the French city and lost only four matches. He has won the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice, demonstrating his power across all surfaces. He won four US Open singles titles and the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, completing a gold slam.
Nadal has also won four Davis Cups for Spain, the most recent in 2019. His latest Grand Slam championship, at the 2022 Australian Open, made him the most successful men’s singles tennis player, only to be surpassed by Novak Djokovic, who currently has 24 Grand Slam titles.
