Rafael Nadal set for emotional farewell to tennis at Davis Cup Finals: “What a career he has had”

Andy Murray says his long-time rival hasn’t changed a bit in the 25 years they’ve known one another. Nadal will look to bring Spain another Davis Cup title – 20 years after he won his first for the nation.

It’s the eve of Wimbledon 2022 and tennis legend Rafael Nadal has unexpectedly swept the first two majors of the season, bringing his Grand Slam total to 22.

The superstar Spaniard is riding yet another unexpected high in his career, but as he walks into a small interview studio in a building just next to the tournament’s storied Centre Court, he has other business to attend to: He sets out to shake hands with every member of the video production crew he is about to speak to.

“Hello.” “Hi, how are you?” “Good to see you again, too.”

It’s a glimpse at the Spanish national hero and international sporting icon from behind the scenes: Nadal always makes a point to say hi to everyone in the room, be it for an interview, sponsor appearance or with a small group of admiring fans.

It’s something he has done since the early days of his career.

This week, those “hellos” will also come with a larger “goodbye” as the two-time Olympic champion bids adieu to competitive tennis for good. It’s a fitting stage for what is set to be an emotional farewell, with Nadal donning Spanish colours one last time as he competes at what is known as the World Cup of tennis, the Davis Cup Finals, in Malaga, Spain.

“In this life, everything has a beginning and an end,” Nadal said in an emotional video posted last month announcing his pending retirement. “[My career] has been longer and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.

“I think I’ve come full circle.”

That “full circle” comment is a nod to Nadal’s long-standing passion to play for his country, dating back to when he had yet to win a major title, when – as a little-known 18-year-old – he rose to tennis superstardom when he led Spain to the Davis Cup in Seville over the U.S.

“[That] was one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player,” he said.

And now it’s set to be one of his last, too.

Rafael Nadal’s Olympic farewell comes on familiar ground – literally

The numbers behind Rafael Nadal’s Roland-Garros dominance