20 years ago, Rafael Nadal tried undermining longtime rival Roger Federer‘s dominance with class, and, of course, athletic finesse. When he first clashed against the ‘Swiss Maestro’ at the Miami Open in 2004, no one believed that the young Mallorcan could make Fed run for his money. But he talked. That day set his footing on the Tour and naturally earned him a massive fan base. He hardly backtracked as he proceeded to stun the world with his laudable feats-24 times against Federer alone. Now, a French former tennis player, Fabrice Santoro, who has a 0–1 against Nadal, walked fans through unknown insights into Rafa’s career.

The 4-time champion at the event, Nadal bid farewell in an emotional ceremony in Malaga following Spain’s Davis Cup defeat to Team Netherland, a week ago. Subsequently, Fabrice Santoro hopped on ‘Bein Sports’ to narrate how he initially fell in admiration of Nadal, at a time when the world was unaware of the Spaniard’s potential. The Frenchman heaped praises on the former World No. 1’s tenacity and mental fortitude, helping in maintain his calm even in the most nerving situations.

He said, “When I saw him arrive with his tank top and shorts, I said to myself: ‘Who is this aggressive young man who is coming to overshadow Roger Federer?’ He is irreproachable, he does not argue a point, he is very correct with the ball boys, he does not break a racket, every time he loses and leaves the court, he never looks for an excuse and he always pays tribute to his opponent. I have seen all his qualities blossom year after year and in the end, I have become a complete fan of Rafael Nadal.”

“And today I tell myself one thing: If you are not a fan of Rafael Nadal, it is because you have not had the chance to cross his path,” Santoro, formerly ranked 17th in the world in 2001, concluded.

Let’s shift our gears to the December last year, when 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal announced his return to the tennis tour-at the Brisbane International-after a year-long battle with injuries. “After a year away from competition, it’s time to come back,” Nadal said in a video he had posted on his social media accounts. “It will be in Brisbane, the first week of January. I’ll see you there.” Subsequently, in an interview with L’Equipe, former top 20 player Santoro admitted that Rafa’s return to the court has sparked mixed feelings.

“It’s not natural, especially at his age…Total Rafa with immense sincerity because it’s passion that trumps everything. It’s colossal to be ready to make these efforts when we have won as much as he has,” the Frenchman had said. “He’s taking the risk…When he comes back, he’s already won. I can’t wait to see him play in Australia… It’s a real buzz.”

Before drawing the curtains on the illustrious legacy, Nadal addressed the crowd with a poignant admission, prompting a thunderous applause at his hometown stadium in Malaga.

Rafael Nadal hopes to be remembered as a ‘good person from a small village’

No one wished for Rafael Nadal’s career to end on a bittersweet note, least of all his Spanish teammates. Despite displaying positive energy during his training sessions alongside countryman Carlos Alcaraz, the Spaniard couldn’t carry similar vibes during his quarterfinal opener against Botic Van de Zandschulp. He lost the rubber in straight sets, but fought valiantly till the end.

After his Team Spain lost their chance to bring glory home, Nadal addressed the crowd with a heartfelt admission, saying, “The titles, the numbers—they’re there, and people probably know that. What I’d like to be remembered for more is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca. I had the luck that my uncle was a tennis coach and I had a great family. Just a kid that followed their dreams, worked as hard as possible to be where I am today.”

However, not everyone was happy with his farewell ceremony. Controversies have sparked in recent days following his departure from the sport, with fans and insiders lamenting how the event could’ve faired him better. Though his final act was not what everyone wanted, like it or not, Nadal is now retired and will likely reap the benefits of his long-drawn career with his loved ones.