If you slipped past Rafael Nadal‘s greatness, you must live under a rock. The Spaniard always had his sword ready for the battle and proved his tenacity in the sport like no one could. He won the French Open 14 times and is nicknamed the ‘King of Clay’. However, beneath all the jaw-dropping accomplishments, he was still a human. He fought the invertible aging on his body and did not give up easily. But, problematic physical concerns could only be dodged for so long, which has been addressed in full by a former WTA star.

Injury setbacks and reoccurring physical restraints, ironically, flipped the tables on the once muscular and chiseled athlete who was feared for his on-court agility. Crazy, right? Though he defied injury woes all his career, Rafa was forced to sit out at least one tournament every season he played on the ATP. From sustaining his first-ever elbow injury in his debut year in 2003 that sidelined him from the French Open to enduring extensive rehabilitation due to a hip injury in Melbourne in 2022, the list runs long. Seeing as his biggest strength, his body, turned into his greatest weakness, Andrea Petkovic penned a poignant note.

The German sensation highlighted that Nadal was unable to recoup after suffering an injury blow against American Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon and since that point, all hell broke loose. However, Petkovic noted that he drew the curtains, knowing he did everything to last longer. “Nadal’s biggest strength became his biggest weakness – as it so often does with human beings. His body had given him everything and more. 22 major titles, 14 of those at Roland Garros alone, 92 ATP titles, the Olympic gold medal, and Davis Cup titles abound. It could not give him anymore. It was done.”

On October 10, the Mallorcan talent announced that would bid farewell to his millions of fans at the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, wearing Spanish colors for the last time. Though poised to bring glory back home in his final professional act, Nadal couldn’t carry his positive training vibes to the court. He lost to Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, thus concluding his glorious journey in tennis. And it was all consequential.

Nadal valiantly till his last professional commitment. Not only that, but the home favorite received thunderous applause from the crowd after reflecting on his stellar career in Malaga.

Rafael Nadal ‘good person from small village’ bid farewell

Rafael Nadal’s reddened eyes brimmed with tears from the emotional bouts he experienced during his farewell ceremony in Malaga. While the entire arena chanted ‘Rafa Rafa Rafa’ in admiration of the Mallorcan legend and his glorious legacy, Nadal later addressed his fans how he would like to be remembered for the generations to come following his retirement.

Nadal spoke to the crowd in Malaga, “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. In some ways, it’s fitting that this was my last match, I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I’ve lost my last. So, we close the circle.” For the record, Nadal lost to Czechia’s Jiri Novak on his Davis Cup debut in 2004.

“A lot of people try their best every single day. I’ve been very lucky. I just want to be remembered as a good person and as a kid who followed his dreams and achieved more than I ever dreamed of,” he added. Nadal said. Nadal’s Spain lost the Davis Cup quest to Team Netherlands, 2-1, before walking away from the sport.

With his professional life done, Nadal will have plenty of time to kick back and savor the rewards of his hard-earned legacy. While fans will surely miss him, chances are that Rafa will return by making surprise guest appearances or even performing in exhibition events later.