Maria Sharapova had a really stylish message for Rafael Nadal because the Russian tennis icon just about described the Spaniard as a really distinctive participant and somebody who was the definition of competitiveness.
After weeks of uncertainty, it was confirmed on Tuesday that the previous world No. 1 would take to the court docket in Spain’s Davis Cup Finals tie towards Netherlands. Whereas that was a optimistic factor, the unhappy half was that the 22-time Grand Slam champion did not handle to finish victorious after Eightieth-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp handed him a 6-4 6-4 loss.
In the course of the match, Nadal did not look wherever close to his finest however one factor was there – he fought till the tip regardless of even being down by a set and two breaks at one level.
“Nobody such as you, @rafaelnadal. I’ve a lot respect on your grit, your love of the ‘struggle’, and the pure class with which you confirmed up, even on a tricky day,” Sharapova captioned her Instagram Story.
Nadal obtained tribute from Sharapova on the day his profession ended
Following the 38-year-old’s defeat to Dutchman, Carlos Alcaraz gave Spain hope by beating Tallon Grieekspor and leveling the tie. However simply when it began to appear to be the host nation would full a comeback, Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers fell brief within the doubles match towards van de Zsndschulp and Wesley Koolhof.
By Spain dropping to Netherlands within the quarterfinal stage, Nadal’s profession additionally ended however he did not depart the court docket in Malaga earlier than addressing the group.
“The title, the numbers are there, so the folks most likely know that. I want to be remembered as an excellent individual from a small village in Majorca. I had the luck. My uncle was a tennis coach in my village once I was a small child, and I had an awesome household that supported me in each single second. Only a child who adopted their dream and labored as arduous as attainable to be what I’m at present,” Nadal stated in his retirement speech.
