Rafael Nadal likely played his final match at the Madrid Open ever, and he addressed the assembled crowd afterward.
Everything about Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, in Madrid was scheduled around the 22-time major winner. The Spaniard got the ‘premier’ slot at 21:30 local time, and expectedly, the match drew the biggest crowd of the day.
Nadal fought against Jiri Lehecka, but the Czech player proved just a little too good. It was a sad moment for all assembled because Nadal repeated a few times during the week that this would be his final time in Madrid.
Much like in Barcelona, he took a moment to appreciate the crowd and addressed them after the match, spotlighting the privilege of having his dream life and finishing by saying goodbye on the court.
“This is one of those days that when it arrives, it’s very tough, but life and my body have been sending me signals for a long time. The dream was to finish here on court. I have been fortunate in my life to turn my passion into my job, I am privileged.”
There is no time for Nadal to dwell on the past, though, as he turns his attention to Rome and new challenges. The Spaniard confirmed that he will compete at the Italian Open in Rome, which is the next ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
His goal is to keep getting better and improving his fitness towards Paris, where he hopes to arrive in good shape and capable of challenging for the trophy at the French Open.
There is a lot of work to be done and not a lot of time, but doubting Nadal would be foolish at this point. He’s proven time and time again that he can rise from the ashes, though if he manages to rise like a phoenix again, this would be the flight of his life.
