Thank you, Rafa, forever!

“I don’t know how to react,” he confessed. Rafael Nadal who also assured that he would only play if he deemed it would help the team in search of the Davis Cup semi-finals. In all honesty to the world, he considered himself ready to compete again almost three months after the Olympic Games, as the captain also decided in his favor, leaving Roberto Bautista out.

Only twenty-three Nadal matches in two seasons, a test since he underwent surgery on his right hip, the iliac psoas, in June 2023. He fought back to become a tennis player, but physical limitations prevented in another of his miracles.

A sports legend, at 38 years old he experienced one of his most difficult moments. Not because of his retirement itself, which he thought, but because he did not give the hand he wanted to the Spanish team. He was defeated, on the verge of goodbye, which ended because there was no return. He made a pretence Carlos Alcaraz, but it is doubled in Marcel Granollers He didn’t finish. A painful 1-2 for the Netherlands. Too early for all but the Dutch.

Nadal has won 29 consecutive Davis Cup singles, he has not lost since February 2004, in his debut. It hurts because sentimentally he deserved more. But the competition is cruel, it knows no legends. The Balearic Islands, currently 154th in the world, surrendered Van de Zandschulp, 29 years old and number 80, 6-4 and 6-4 in 1h.53′. He tried to defend the right attack of the Dutchman, but Rafa could not get over the net. Perhaps your last point. “If I were the captain, I wouldn’t wear it.” David Ferrer will no longer have doubts, unfortunately for all the members of the formation.

There was a possibility that it would be their last meeting. He himself verified that his performance was far from what he had imagined in the past few days while he was preparing it.

The applause to Rafael Nadal It was thunderous, at the beginning and at the end. Almost 12,000 fans on Martín Carpena from Malagaknow the historical moment. Also the big ‘oranje’ group, with hundreds of representatives in uniform and forming a block behind their bench.

Rafael Nadal He was excited at first. He broke down in tears during a ceremony of Spanish anthems and a heartfelt minute of silence for Valencia. ‘We are with you’ is the motto worn by the local team. And black crape.

Then he went to work. He is always an expert in managing resources according to the conditions of each day. But in his heart, his wisdom and commitment were not worth it this time. He even faked a reaction from 1-4 in the second set, after experiencing a 0-5 partial from 4-3 in the first to 4-6, 0-2. He left a mark on how well he was represented, even though the end of a long and successful career had come. He sweats bullets, raises his fist to cheer on the fans and never stops looking for a crack to slip through. It was closed by the enemy, who was not afraid.

He is more direct in his game, with more serve and net, he uses a strategy of finding the opponent’s backhand. He tried everything. The limitation of movement (the legs are not very fast and there is a delicate last injury) and the lack of rhythm of the competition caused their injury. At the front, a rival that poses a danger indoors and on a fast track. A tireless puncher. He made the last US Open bittersweet for Carlos Alcaraz, he ended Rafa Nadal’s dream.

His legacy remains intact regardless of Malaga. Thank you, Rafa. Forever. “Rafa, Rafa,” the flag sings, the retreat is over. This is far from a result. He leaves behind 5 Davis Cups, 22 Grand Slams (14 Roland Garros) or 2 golds. It is more, it leaves an indelible legacy.