Rafael Nadal’s retirement finally came as Spain bowed out of the Davis Cup to the Netherlands at the quarter-final stage.
His final match saw him fall in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp, and with doubles defeat following, Spain were eliminated.
Nadal had announced in October that the Davis Cup would be his last tournament, marking the end of an era for one of tennis’s greatest.
However, his retirement ceremony stirred controversy, with public criticism from both his uncle Toni Nadal and coach Carlos Moya.
They expressed disappointment at what Moya expressed as a ‘shabby’ send-off, suggesting it didn’t adequately reflect Nadal’s legacy.
Despite the contentious farewell, Nadal’s impact on tennis remains indelible, leaving behind a legacy of unmatched grit, sportsmanship, and 22 Grand Slam titles.
With his career looking totally over, Stefanos Tsitsipas has suggested a way he might try and get the 38-year-old to hang around just a but longer.
Stefanos Tsistipas sends message to Rafael Nadal
Tsitsipas has long been vocal about his admiration for tennis legends and their unique talents on and off the court.
His appreciation extends beyond singles, and as a keen doubles player, he has often acknowledged the technical and strategic challenges of doubles play.
When asked about his dream doubles partner, Tsitsipas didn’t hesitate to reflect on the privilege of competing alongside some of the game’s greats, naming his partnership with Roger Federer as one of his favorite moments.
The 26-year-old then added: “I’ll add in a bonus of Rafael Nadal because I was actually very surprised how good he is in doubles. I didn’t expect it.”
Convinced that Nadal’s doubles ability has often got under appreciated, he said: “People underestimate him in doubles – I texted him the other day and said you should not retire you have to play doubles again,” he said, smiling.
- READ MORE: Stefanos Tsitsipas picks who he thinks is the better player out of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal’s doubles record
Nadal holds a career record of 142–77 and has secured 11 titles in doubles competition.
His highest doubles ranking was 26th, achieved in August 2005, with the Spaniard extensively playing both singles and doubles at the start of his career.
Superb at the net, Nadal reached his only Grand Slam doubles semi-final at the US Open in 2004, while his best achievement remains his historic gold medal win at the 2016 Olympics alongside Marc López.
Though far better known for his singles dominance, Nadal’s doubles achievements show that Tsitsipas is absolutely right!
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