By admin 
MALAGA, Spain — Rafael Nadal bid an emotional farewell to tennis in a moving ceremony at a sold-out arena in Malaga, as fans celebrated the career of the retiring legend after Spain’s 2-1 Davis Cup defeat to the Netherlands on Tuesday.
Holding back tears, Nadal addressed the crowd with a nearly 15-minute speech that extended into the early hours of Wednesday. The 22-time Grand Slam champion reflected on his journey, which ended earlier in the day with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp. The match marked the end of Nadal’s incredible 29-match singles winning streak in the Davis Cup, as well as his illustrious career.
“I have always tried to be a good person, and I hope that’s how you’ve seen me,” Nadal told the audience. “I leave tennis with the satisfaction of having built a legacy I’m proud of and having met so many incredible friends along the way.”
He expressed heartfelt gratitude to his fans, saying, “Thank you to all of you. It’s been over 20 years—good years, bad years—and I’ve been lucky to feel so much love from around the world, especially here in Spain.”
The 38-year-old had announced last month that he would retire following the Davis Cup Final Eight. While his final match didn’t end with victory and Spain’s elimination added a bittersweet note, the ceremony was a celebration of Nadal’s extraordinary career and his enduring impact on the sport.