An exciting and moving story about Rafa Nadal arrives: the sporting drama that the Spanish tennis player is experiencing seen from the inside
They were all waiting impatiently, at the Philippe Chatrier, to see Rafa Nadal take the field. There where the Spaniard had written pages of authentic legend with 14 triumphs at Roland Garros and where he deserved to return at least one last time.
A task that proved, as fans and enthusiasts feared, to be arduous, to challenge Alexander Zverev, number 4 in the world, fresh winner of the Rome Internationals and perhaps the fittest tennis player of the moment. In the end, the German prevailed in three sets, but Nadal gave everythingalso managing to put him in difficulty and coming close to snatching at least the second set from him, which could have put everything back into question.
The Mallorcan’s fight was strenuous and enthralling. And great emotions also came from his words at the end of the match, with a greeting to the Chatrier crowd. Not yet definitive, in the hope of at least being at the Olympics, in a few months. Certainly, Nadal is experiencing great internal turmoil in this period, in an attempt to leave the stage with dignity.
Nadal’s long farewell: “It’s more difficult for him than for Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi”
Those who know him very well are describing the feelings linked to his retirement. Uncle and former coach Toni Nadalinterviewed by ‘El Pais’, explained why Rafa struggles so much to say enough.
Toni Nadal made a football comparison to make clear the particularity of the case. “Retiring from the world of tennis involves a difficulty that other champions don’t have – he explained – Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi can still continue to play in the lower leagues, continuing to do for a while what they have done all their lives. A tennis player when he says enough, he says enough to everything from one day to the next“.
However, Rafa’s uncle reiterates that there is still a great desire to fight in Nadal’s heart. “He wants to be at the Olympics and being at his best is his next big goal – he added – In the match against Zverev he understood that its level is still very good. She is continuing, day after day, to have unshakable faith in her abilities and to hold on to every little point of light.”
