Every tennis enthusiast thought that the ‘King of Clay’, Rafael Nadal, would say goodbye to professional tennis on the clay court. However, the reality turned out a bit different. Nadal opted for the Davis Cup to be his last tournament of the season. What better way to hang the racquet than in front of the family and your countrymen cheering for you? However, many thought, including the former pro, Paul McNamee, that it was a lackluster event despite the Spaniard retiring in Spain.

The farewell that the 22-time Grand Slam champion received at home impressed not everyone. There were many factors for the same. Firstly, the 14-time French Open titlist was playing on a hard court. Secondly, he lost his last match-his first in the event since losing to Jiri Novak in 2004. And lastly, when compared to Roger Federer’s farewell at the Laver Cup a few years back, Rafael Nadal’s retirement fell short of celebrating his career. The Aussie pro chose to address the first issue.

On Tuesday, the two-time Olympic gold medallist ended his career with a loss to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup Final 8 quarter-final. Unimpressed by Nadal’s final match, McNamee tweeted, “Can anyone explain to me why the finals @DavisCup, hosted & funded by Spain, were played on hard court? Goodness me, Nadal would not have lost that match on clay… the surface became the ultimate party pooper.”

Moreover, Rafael Nadal’s first coach, his uncle Toni Nadal, also expressed his disappointment about the same. Toni felt that organizers didn’t do justice to Nadal’s 23-year-old career and legacy. In an interview reported by Puntodebreak, Toni detailed the missing pieces at the event.

He said, “It was moving, of course, with the support of the public, but it would have had another dimension with images. I like to see images of these events. I would have liked to see images of Rafael winning the Davis Cup in Seville, of Rafael at the Madrid tournament, at Roland Garros or Wimbledon, because this creates more emotion. Rafael is a person whose images convey passion and emotion. If they had done this, it would have been more fitting.”

While the views and love pour in from all the sides, it’s game over for the Spanish star, who has now transitioned into a legend. However, fans certainly wanted at least another year with the ‘tenacious warrior,’ to say goodbye in their own way. However, for Rafael Nadal, it was Davis Cup.

Why didn’t Rafael Nadal wait for another year to hang up his racquet?

It’s never enough for fans and tennis enthusiasts. We always want more! However, after a long hiatus with a few tournaments here and there, a few weeks ago, Nadal announced his decision to retire. Why? Though Rafael Nadal is not tired, his body is barely holding. Despite a storied career spanning over 20 years, Nadal’s journey has been marred by numerous injuries. In addition to his well-documented left foot issues, he has also faced persistent problems with his left shoulder and both knees.

Detailing his view about the same, after ‘the heartbreak in Spain, Nadal said, “Okay, I can hold for one more year, but why? I mean, to say goodbye in every single tournament, I don’t have the ego to do that. For me today, don’t make sense to keep going knowing that I don’t have the hands to be competitive the way I like to be competitive.”

Nadal’s 2024 season was significantly curtailed by persistent injuries, limiting him to just eight tournaments. At 38 years old, it became evident that his body could no longer sustain the rigors of professional tennis. While disappointment surrounds the minds of Nadal fans, for the star of the day, it’s a done deal. With the Davis Cup loss, Rafael Nadal has closed his circle of professional tennis.