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Full text of Rafael Nadal’s farewell speech following his last match of playing career.
Rafael Nadal was paid a rich tribute by his fellow rivals, teammates and fans. (AP Photo)
Rafael Nadal addressed his family, friends, fans, media, tennis federations and sponsors during an emotional farewell speech. Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, played the final match of his legendary career during the Davis Cup quarter-final between Spain and the Netherlands on Tuesday.
“The titles, the numbers are there, so people probably know that, but the way that I would like to be remembered more is like a good person, from a small village in Mallorca,” Nadal said. “I had the luck that I had my uncle that was a tennis coach in my village when I was a very, very small kid, and a great family that supports me in every moment…I just want to be remembered as a good person, a kid that followed their dreams and achieved (even) more than what I had dreamed.”
Here’s what he said
Honestly, it has been 20 years of professional career in which you have always carried me on your shoulders. In the good moments, you helped me win the next point, and in the bad moments, without a doubt, you pushed me to keep fighting, and I have been able to live it with all of you. Honestly, I have felt incredibly lucky to receive so much love from all over the world, especially here in Spain.
I want to continue by congratulating the Dutch team, and I want to thank the entire Spanish team that is here. Not just to all of you who allowed me to live the dream of playing the Davis Cup again. It’s clear that things didn’t turn out the way we all wanted. I would have loved to help more than I did, but honestly, I gave everything I had, and I want to sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity to spend these last days as a professional with the team.
Several of the most emotional moments of my career I’ve lived with many of you here. Being part of the Spanish team has been an incredible privilege and honor. We’ve enjoyed it, we’ve achieved many beautiful things together, and now it’s your turn to keep living them, which I’m sure will happen. Thank you, really.
The reality is that one never wants to arrive at this moment. Honestly, I am not tired of playing tennis. It’s simply that my body has reached a point where it no longer wants to play tennis, so we have to accept the situation. I truly feel like a very privileged person. I’ve been able to make one of my hobbies my career, and much longer than I ever imagined. I can only thanks life and thanks to all the people I have here with me, some are not here, many are, especially my family, without a doubt.
Team, friends you’ve been an unforgettable part of my day-to-day life throughout these years. I am someone who believes in continuity, in keeping the people who really care about you and make your life better close to you. That’s what I’ve tried to do my whole life, keep the team, keep the family close, make few changes in my team. And that’s led me to not just have a professional relationship with all of you, but to have a personal relationship that goes far beyond our professional careers. For all of this, a thousand thanks. Without you, none of this would have been possible, and I say that from the heart.
I also know that I don’t want to go on too long, but in that sense, I also want to thank everyone who has been by my side at any moment, whether at the company level, the Spanish Federation, all the sponsors who have accompanied me on the journey. Some are still here, and others have been with me at certain points in my life. Without exception, I’m incredibly grateful for the trust and unconditional support. It’s meant so much to me to have the support of such important companies and for them to believe in me throughout these years. They’ve made me feel safe and truly good being part of their family. Many, many thanks to all of you.
I don’t want to forget the media. Honestly, you’ve been with me, accompanying me, telling the story of my career in several places around the world, some traveling more, others less. But I want to thank you for the way you’ve treated me most of the time. Sometimes I’ve made mistakes, played badly in many matches, others well, but I’ve felt very well treated by you, and the most important thing for me is that there has always been respect in our relationship. Even though you do your job, and I do mine, I really appreciate the way you’ve treated me and how you’ve been able to tell the world my story, which has been a beautiful one for me, with moments that were bad, but the truth is that the vast majority have been really good and unforgettable. So, thank you so much for being part of my story as well.
To the entire sports industry, the ATP, the ITF, everyone I mentioned earlier, the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation, the Balearic Federation, all those who make sure this sport remains at the top of the world. We’re a global sport, and you make sure that our sport continues to move masses. I encourage you to continue on the path you’ve been on for so long. I’m a huge sports enthusiast in general. I’m retiring from professional tennis, but I’m still here, and anything I can do, I hope to continue being a good ambassador for tennis.
That’s what I’ve truly tried to do my whole life, to make an effort every day to be better, to achieve goals, but I’ve tried to do it with respect, with humility, appreciating all the good things that have come my way. I think in some way, I’ve tried to do what’s most important to me in this world, which is to be a good person. I hope that you’ve perceived that as well. Honestly, I leave the world of professional tennis having made many friends along the way. There are so many people I would like to thank, people I’ve met through tournaments, people who’ve worked with me in the ATP. It’s hard to remember everyone, but I really think I leave with the peace of mind that, in some way, I’ve left a legacy, as I truly feel it, not only in sports, but also personally, because I understand that the love I receive from around the world would not be the same if it were only for what I’ve done on the court.
Thank you very much for everything.
I want to say my last words by thanking my family, who have never failed me. They’ve been with me in moments when things seemed impossible. In the good moments, they’ve kept my feet on the ground, and I think that makes today and the future easier to bear. I know a process is coming. I don’t know if it will be difficult, but all changes in life come with an adjustment process, and I’m at peace because I believe I’ve received an education that allows me to face what’s to come calmly, with the personal satisfaction of having done everything I could until the end. And honestly, I’m at peace because I have a great family around me, helping me with everything I need every day. Thank you so much.”
