Written by Richard Pagliaro | @Itenisi_Manje | Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Picture credit score: Mike McNulty/Getty for the ITF Davis Cup
Champions come and go.
Legends stay eternally.
Extra: TC stops Jon Wertheim
In entrance of an adoring dwelling crowd chanting “Rafa! Rafa!”, the 38-year-old Spanish star. Rafael Nadal obtained a hero’s medal at his remaining Davis Cup occasion in Malaga, Spain at the moment.
Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp beat Nadal 6-4, 6-4 within the remaining singles match of the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
Wesley Koolhof and Van de Zandschulp cease Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers 7-6(4), 7-6(3) Netherlands 2-1 Davis Cup win over Spain in quarterfinals and elimination Nadal’s course.
Former world primary Nadal spoke of gratitude for his profession and have become emotional when a tribute video was performed on the large display screen.
Grand Slam champions together with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Serena Williams and Juan Martin del Potro paid tribute to Nadal, expressing what he means to tennis and to them personally.
Afterwards, Nadal was requested in regards to the legacy he hopes to depart behind.
The clay king stated he hopes individuals will sum up his legacy in three phrases: particular person.
Embed from Getty Photographs
The proprietor of 92 championships stated that being a superb particular person is extra vital to him than being an incredible champion.
“On the finish of the day, to be sincere, lots of people work arduous, lots of people attempt their finest each day,” Nadal informed the group in Malaga. “However I’m a type of who was very fortunate that life gave me a possibility to stay that I’ll always remember due to tennis.
“I wish to be remembered as a superb particular person and as a toddler who adopted their desires and achieved greater than I ever dreamed.”
In that pursuit, together with many others in his illustrious profession, Nadal was an impressed success.
