Rafael Nadal’s retirement from tennis in 2024 signified a momentous changing of the guard on the ATP Tour.
A new era of tennis is on the horizon, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner emerging as the sport’s next superstars and Novak Djokovic perhaps creeping towards the end of his career.
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Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, has a plethora of personal and professional awards to call upon when being remembered as one of the greatest tennis players and role models of the 21st century.
However, the Spaniard has expressed what he would like to be ‘loved’ for after his playing career, and it has little to do with his on-court performances.
Rafael Nadal wants to be loved for his character
Nadal, one of the most polite players to have played on the ATP Tour, recently congratulated Coco Gauff on her French Open victory.
The 39-year-old’s recent interview with Sport only confirmed his long-standing desire to treat others well.
He said: “On a sporting level, the results are what people will remember.”
“On a human level, you might even fool the general public around the world, but the people who work at a tournament, not just your team, are the ones who see your day-to-day life.
“They are the ones who truly value how you are, and when you return years later, they are excited not because of the numbers, but because of who you are as a person, because of your character.”
Nadal retired in 2024 after a storied career. The two-time Olympic gold medallist won 92 ATP Tour titles, including two Wimbledon titles, two Australian Open titles and four US Open titles.
Rafael Nadal’s route to his first Grand Slam title
As a 19-year-old who had just won the Monte-Carlo and Rome titles, Rafael Nadal walked into the 2005 French Open as one of the early favorites.
In the first round, he squared off against Germany’s Lars Burgsmuller and dismissed the 25-year-old 6-1, 7-6, 6-1.
The Spaniard then made light work of Belgium’s Xavier Malisse before a more tightly contested 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 win over France’s Sebastien Grosjean in the third round.
He then defeated a young Gasquet 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 before dispatching compatriot David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2, 6-0.
In just his third Grand Slam appearance, the 19-year-old overpowered Argentina’s Mariano Puerta in four sets, winning 6-7, 6-7, 7-6, 5-7, setting up his historic title win over Puerta.
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