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For the first time in Rafael Nadal's (38) long, illustrious and glorious career, he accepted defeat. A player and man who often never knew when he was beaten, acknowledged it was time to call it quits. One of sport's greatest warriors laid down his sword and shield, bowing down to the fact that no one - not even him - can topple the relentless and soul-sapping force of Father Time. Everyone knew that Nadal's time in tennis was dwindling.
The Spanish great announced in 2023 that, in all likelihood, 2024 would be his last hurrah. So after a stop-start year, which included a first-round defeat at his beloved French Open and a second-round exit in the Olympics at the same venue, Nadal finally made the official confirmation that his body had nothing left to give - he was hanging up his racquet. No more dusting the clay off his sweaty body after another French Open triumph. No more fiddling with his shorts and tucking his hair behind his ears before a serve which pushes the 20-second time limit between points. No more placing his water bottles in inch-perfect positions as part of his superstition. No more Rafael Nadal, The King of
Clay No more the 14-time French Open champion, the man who dominated on the dirt in such an irresistible, unparalleled manner. Sadness washed over the sport. He was warmly celebrated by his peers, but also by stars from other fields. Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz all paid tribute, as did football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Nadal is a 22-time Grand Slam winner, two-time Olympic gold medalist, 36-time Masters champion and a five-time Davis Cup victor. With a resumé that is bettered by only Djokovic in the men's game, Nadal's name is forever etched in history.
An iconic athlete whose greatness transcended tennis, his presence in the game will be oh-so sorely missed. But there is more to Nadal than just numbers. A career defined by sheer willpower, unrivalled heart, and an unabating attitude to play every point like it is his very last. However, it was also a career plagued by setbacks and injuries. In his early years, he suffered from tendinitis, and as he got older and more brittle, his foot and hip began to let him down.
He missed over 15 Grand Slams during his career due to injuries, while also pulling out during major tournaments on several occasions. Father Time caught up. Whether it is the body breaking down or simply losing a step or two, it happens to everyone. And you usually don't get your fairytale ending either. In the final set of his singles career, Roger Federer was bageled (6-0) by Hubert Hurkacz. In Usain Bolt's final race, he broke down halfway, pulling up with a hamstring injury. Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali lost a 10-round unanimous decision to Trevor Berbick in his last fight.
Look at the position Djokovic finds himself in - tennis very own Superman. His aura of invincibility no longer exists. Gone are the days when his mere presence would win him titles. Now he must accept that he is playing second fiddle to Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz - 14 years and 16 years his
junior respectively. In typical Nadal fashion, the 38-year-old turned down the chance to have a goodbye ceremony at Roland Garros this year, in the hope that maybe, just maybe, he might be able to keep
Father Time at bay a little longer. But if he can't, then I guess nobody can. The vulnerability and despair shown by Nadal during his 23-year career made him more relatable than his great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
