Truly touching moments experienced in Madrid with Rafa Nadal as the protagonist. Tears and emotion were inevitable for those who witnessed the scene
It was a week to remember for Rafa Nadal the one experienced in Madrid where the Iberian champion returned to the field in a Masters Mille a year and a half after the last one played.
Despite his still very precarious physical condition, Nadal managed to reach the round of 16. The two victories against De Minaur and Cachin were beautiful, the latter defeated after a battle that ended in the third set. An effort that Rafa paid dearly for in the following match against the Czech Jiri Lehecka who defeated him in the round of 16 7-5; 6-4.
A far from unexpected knockout in what was Nadal’s last match in Madrid. Rafa had already announced in the press conference that seeing him back on the pitch at the Caja Magica again next year would be impossible. Now we are certain of this after the tribute that the tournament organizers paid to him, moving everyone in the stands and at home.
Nadal, everyone in tears in Madrid for his farewell
At the end of the match with Lehecka, Gerard Tsobanian and Feliciano Lopez, CEO and director of the Mutua Open respectively, handed over to Nadal a commemorative trophy while a scenography fell from the stands to celebrate the five career victories achieved by the Majorcan in Madrid, the first in 2005 when the tournament was still played on indoor hard courts.
The usual protocol expected at the end of the match was completely changed for the occasion. Lehecka sat on the bench and left the stage to Rafa who, visibly moved, took the microphone to the last farewell from the public who acclaimed him throughout many years of career and triumphs.
“It was a gift for me to play here for 21 years – we read in Nadal’s statements taken from Tennisworlditalia – This moment will always remain with me. It’s hard to accept when it arrives but my body has been sending me signals for too long. The dream was to end up on the pitch. I consider myself privileged. I’ve been lucky with everything I’ve experienced and I can’t ask for more.”
While Nadal gave his speech, visibly moved, the cameras lingered on wife Xisca and sister Maria Isabel in tears in the stands. Their reaction was also shared by other spectators present at the Caja Magica and, probably, also by those who witnessed the scene from home.
A touching moment for all the fans who will slowly have to get used to no longer seeing one of the champions who wrote the history of Tennis in the new millennium on the court. Nadal, however, also specified that it is not over yet. In fact, Rafa will try to be in Rome to prepare in the best possible way for the key event of the season, the one with “his son” Roland Garros.
