It’s no surprise that Rafael Nadal couldn't move a step at the Davis Cup Final 8 without being asked for a handshake or selfie, with requests coming not just from fans but from fellow professional tennis players as well.
At 38, Nadal’s retirement carries weight both inside and outside the sport, following a career riddled with injuries.
While his 22 Grand Slam titles cement his place in history, perhaps his most enduring legacy lies in how he inspired generations of players.
The all-time great’s career came to an end when Spain was eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals late Tuesday into Wednesday.
Botic van de Zandschulp, the 80th-ranked player who defeated Nadal 6-4, 6-4 in his final match, spoke after the win about idolizing the Spaniard.
Many current players grew up watching Nadal, admiring not only his formidable skills – from his powerful left-handed forehands to his precise volleys – but his relentless drive, commitment to improvement, and, perhaps most of all, his humility off the court.
He set an example for others, from contemporaries Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Serena Williams, to members of the following generations, including heir apparent Carlos Alcaraz.
"I was a big Rafa fan. Used to wear all his kits, his shoes, everything. A lot of neon colors,” said Ben Shelton, a 22-year-old member of the U.S. team that faces Australia on Thursday. The other quarterfinal match features defending champion Italy and No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner against Argentina. "And being a lefty, he’s a guy that I have always kind of watched and tried to learn things from. One of those perfect examples of how to do things on and off the court, how to handle the press, how to win with class, how to lose with class.”
That sentiment was echoed by player after player, many of whom were thrilled to be on-site for his farewell.
"For him to have this as his finishing point, it’s an honor for the event," said Yannick Hanfmann, part of the German squad that defeated Canada 2-0 on Wednesday and will meet the Netherlands in the semifinals on Friday. "He’s present everywhere. In the training area, when he’s walking around, you see the people looking and trying to get some pictures, here and there. He’s got this aura that already was big, but now that this is the end, it’s maybe more important.”
Hanfmann and others were struck by Nadal's dedication to chasing every shot down, by his refusal to accept defeat, no matter the deficit, by his longevity and consistency – nearly 18 full years in a row ranked in the top 10, 10 consecutive years with at least one major title – and his dizzying peaks, including the 14 French Open championships that earned him the "King of Clay" nickname.
His unfailing politeness, seen in such gestures as when he would say goodbye to every volunteer on his way out of a tournament, or just this Monday, when he arrived at Spain’s team news conference and made a beeline for the stenographer to shake the hand of the person who would be typing up the transcript of the Q&A session for reporters.
"The titles, the numbers, are there, so people probably know that, but the way I would like to be remembered is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca,” Nadal said during a tear-filled post-match ceremony at the sold-out Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena, where thousands serenaded him with a chorus of "Raaaa-faaa! Raaaa-faaa!”
"Just a kid that followed their dreams," he said, "(and) worked as hard as possible.”
No opponent, or any observer for that matter, could ever question his effort, even as injury after injury made things tougher, especially over the past two seasons.
No one ever doubted his drive to get better.
"I really will miss watching him on court,” said Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion and long an unabashed fan of Nadal’s. "Honestly, he was the only player I watched, so I don’t know if I’m going to watch tennis at all now. He’s a huge inspiration.”
That last word, or a variation of it, was used over and over again as tributes to Nadal were offered.
So were "intensity," "passion," "grit," and "role model."
"For me,” said Alcaraz, a 21-year-old Spaniard with four major trophies, "it’s difficult to accept that Rafael Nadal is going to retire, honestly.”
