Quiet man from Mallorca couldn’t stop the clock on his ageing body but what a life, what a career – truly tennis’s ‘real thing’
Elite sport is that peculiar amalgam of ritual, repetition, ingrained twitches, drilled skill, known strengths and feared limits. But it matters not a jot without passion – and sometimes even that is not enough.
At 38 and in reasonable if not optimum shape, Rafael Nadal brought all of those elements together in Málaga on Tuesday night as best he could, but not with enough conviction to seal his farewell with a win. He took defeat in his last match with as much dignity as victory in his first, aged 15. But he lost. And it hurt. He would not have wanted it any other way.
Written by Kevin Mitchell
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2024/nov/20/farewell-rafael-nadal-one-of-sports-most-gracious-champions-tennis under the title “Farewell, Rafael Nadal: it was my pleasure to know one of sport’s most gracious champions | Kevin Mitchell”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
