Rafael Nadal’s Emotional Retirement Ceremony With Full Speech [Video]

Hasta la Vista, Rafa!
Thanks for all the glorious battles. For showing that some OCD is actually a huge plus, and commonly seen in people of high accomplishment in professions and sports.

Now there is only one of the Big 3 + Andy left. And Stan plays on. They took the sport to a new level, and thanks and appreciation for each is warranted.
Along with a need not to forget other great pros like Verdasco, del Potro, Thiem, David Ferrer, Berdych. Without worthy foes, the Big 3 + Andy would have less of a legacy than they gave us. So many were worthy foes that also drew fans in and spread the sports popularity.

Best wishes for Rafa and his Saudi venture. And of course the rest of his life away from the tennis world. May Rafa finding his way be enjoyable and fun. He already has practice with some time away from tennis with some claimed injury in many hardcourt seasons.

November 21st, 2024 at 5:16 pm

Not a dry eye in the house, lovely to see all the family there to see Rafas amazing career go off into the sunset, Rafa and Roger the two most loved players to ever play the game, now gone but will never be forgotten, wishing him well in the next chapter of his family life, Rafa junior is the most adorable little boy, everything about him just melts your heart, Vamos Rafa, and thanks for the memories ❤️🎾😊

November 22nd, 2024 at 5:14 am

Lovely letter from Federer, Rafas greatest rival, whomever came out victorious in their on court battles, it was always the biggest box office draw in tennis, regardless of the H2H 🎾🤗

November 22nd, 2024 at 12:30 pm

IT was 24-16 Rafa in their H2Hs. Though Fed fought back a little in the late 2010s, Uncle Toni knew that Rafa could break down Fed’s “majestic” one-handed backhand, watching a Rafa-Fed match was like watchin a Newfoundland fur harvester clubbing a baby seal to death. No contest.

Nice that Fed could (with Nike’s help in “best friends off court” PR sales) have nice words for the player that dominated him with the mighty Rafa lefty forehand with high spin and bounce. Breaking down the Fed backhand in almost every encounter until Federer was forced to modify his backhand and take balls early before they bounced shoulder high.

Fed and Djokovic and most other greats missed Nadals end because they didn’t think Spain would be bounced in the QFs.

November 22nd, 2024 at 6:12 pm

Too much Djokoritis here, some cannot post without a “Djokovic” clause. Fed took down Rafa plenty of times, just not on Clay. Hardly no one else did either in the Rafa peak years.

Djoker has the numbers(but not all) but this rivalry wasn’t about that, it was about watching the contrasting of styles in epic championship form while maintaining the classic sportsmanship of the game. Not since Connors/Borg/Johnny Mac and Sampras/Agassi was a match between these two was so highly anticipated and so excitingly entertaining to watch. When they went past their prime what was left was….only meh. They will be missed.

November 22nd, 2024 at 7:25 pm

Well said Skeezer 👋😀

November 23rd, 2024 at 2:06 am

Alison, (and other pseudonyms over the years), Squirrel and Oki, wow, this day has finally come.

Rafa won 92 ATP-level singles titles, including 36 Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal, with 63 of these on clay courts. (Please correct me if I am wrong, Alison), Nadal is one of three men to complete the career Golden Slam in singles.

To all the Nadal fans out there, I feel your sense of loss, which it is. One of the greatest and THE GREATEST EVER on Claycourt Tennis, Ever.

What a loss to the sport of tennis, but we must count our blessings. To have lived through the era of Federer/Nadal and for Murray too, to have been so successful. It is a truly beautiful time in history.

Rafael Nadal: How This ‘Good Person From A Small Village’ Dominated Tennis Courts, Made $500 Million
That’s Rafa, to be remembered as a Good person from a small village, when all of these celebrity women were throwing themselves at him. He was not interested.

The first word which comes to mind, to Describe Rafa, Federer said, was “kind”. That is the first word which everyone can agree on. Kind. Then Dominant, unmatched, incredible, idol.

Off court activities through his academy, his charity. Oh the tears. The tears.

Novak said “Incredible”.

Murray said “Passion”. Murray and the playstation story, is worth listening to it! And Roger with the golf course comment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS4zh2RvQmg

Listen to the messages guys. It has been so very wonderful to be a part of the tennis family.

Alison, yes with the h2h, but oh, so much more than that. I truly believe that Rafa made Federer a better player, it was Rafa who made Federer strengthen his back hand. Remember the ATP World Finals a few years ago, Federer smashed Rafa with his backhand shots, absolutely un-frickin’ believable.

I have loved tennis because of Federer and Nadal.

More to be written on this later…

November 23rd, 2024 at 8:19 am

Whoever said this on this thread, 100% agree!

“They took the sport to a new level, and thanks and appreciation for each is warranted.”

Tennis will never be the same again.

But, life goes on…

November 23rd, 2024 at 8:21 am

Madmax – I said that because tennis benefited from not just the Big Three Superstars but Murray, and the others that were players so gifted and good that they deserve huge credit for how the sport advanced on the men’s side. Many of different “styles” as some put style over substance because style matters in sports to them.

The women’s side became stultified, IMO, with the coronation of Queen Serena, with far too many women that just showed up to play and then lose to the Queen. And get their paycheck after 50 minutes on court. Who gave loser speeches about just how beamingly happy they were to have the honor of being there in a final to be beaten by the Queen.

But over on the men’s side, tennis got much better when other men refused to worship Fed as King, and matches 2006 and on became dogfights. And that is not just All About the Big 3.
Andy and players like Thiem, Medvedev, Roddick, Ferrer, Delpo, even Gael Monfils who lost a lot but had the ability to sometimes do spectacular matches the pros seemed to look forward to highlights of.

Lets all hope Rafa avoids the chronic hip injuries that come to players not light on their feet like Federer. But heavy, pounding players who are fast and powerful baseliners who do sudden stops and you can hear their feet thudding. May Rafa’s retirement be healthy.

November 23rd, 2024 at 4:28 pm

Talking about Andy, he has just been appointed as a new Nole’s coach?!

November 23rd, 2024 at 7:11 pm

Also about Andy, from the word go he was troubling Roger and wining his matches more often than not, he actually had quite healthy positive h2h against Swiss until 2010/11 and then he just couldn’t keep it up for a difference of Nole who was going from strength to strength.

Talking abou clay, Roger has beaten Rafa only twice on clay and never in Paris, Rome and Monte Carlo, Nole has beaten Rafa 9 ( NINE) times on clay in every single clay masters, every single mclay masters final and 3 (THREE) times on Court Philippe-Chatrier, comparing him and Roger on clay against Rafa is delusional, even coming from Sleazer, die hard Nole fan who had running batles with Rafa fans in 2011 on this site when Nole has beaten Rafa, then world #1 player, in 7 (SEVEN) consecutive finals on all three surfaces, never ever happened before and probably won’t happen again, to beat world #1 in 7 consecutive bog titles finals.

From Nole fan to Nole hater, Sleazer my dear, why so buthurt?!

November 23rd, 2024 at 7:28 pm

^need to turn off faucet when posting.

“ Fed took down Rafa plenty of times, just not on Clay. “

November 23rd, 2024 at 11:25 pm

^^^^
“Hardly no one else did either in the Rafa peak years.”

Why not mentioning the one that did or you think 2011/12 are not Rafa peak years?!
The only one crying here is you Sleazer, why would any fan of the GOAT cry, it’s game over, your man is a history, my man is still making the history, see the difference?!

PS
One more thing:

“Djoker has the numbers(but not all)”

Very wrong, Nole has all relevant tennis records against his name and that with “stands alone”, name one relevant record that Nole doesn’t have, pay attention on “relevant”?!

November 24th, 2024 at 12:36 am

Yes Novak has everything, he’s the GOAT yada, yada, the thread was about Rafa and his leaving ceremony and speech, the point I was making was not everything in tennis was about H2Hs,and numbers, Federer and Nadal were the box office draw, as Skeezer said their contrasting styles, then as usual it turned into name calling, and personal attacks, typical of tennis extra now

November 24th, 2024 at 5:03 am

My man, your man, they are tennis players, didn’t realise some people had such personal relationships with the players lol

November 24th, 2024 at 6:07 am

Talk about hilarious! Obviously the two of them are so very hard up. Andy for money and Faker for attention. Disaster written all over it! Pfffft

November 24th, 2024 at 6:54 am

“Nole has all relevant tennis records against his name and that with “stands alone”, name one relevant record that Nole doesn’t have, pay attention on “relevant”?!”

Here is one. Rafa’s 14 Grand Slam Titles @ French Open. Stands alone, for a very long long long long time. I would say that is pretty “relevant”.

November 24th, 2024 at 12:20 pm

Yes I’m not saying Novak doesn’t have some amazing records, it goes without saying, but if you look at Wikipedia you will see that both Federer and Nadal both have records that are theirs and theirs alone that will never be matched,it would be unfair if that were never taken into account, Novak doesn’t have the monopoly on record breaking

November 24th, 2024 at 2:53 pm

^^
Wrong, this is what is relevant:

24 > 22 > 20

or:

40 > 36 > 28

…and so on, not individual GSs or masters, quite a few players have a record at some individual events, that’s is not relevant in the big picture, but combined result is relevant.

November 24th, 2024 at 3:00 pm

^^
That was for former Nole fan, now Nole hater…. one of few Nole haters on this site.

November 24th, 2024 at 3:05 pm

People’s own personal bias decides what’s relevant, and what’s not now, okay right got it, anyway best of luck Rafa in your retirement, which is what the thread was originally about, before it turned into a Novak love fest, like everything else on here now 🙄

November 24th, 2024 at 3:22 pm

Djoker will never ever own the GS record on Clay, this is Rafa country through and through.

November 24th, 2024 at 10:37 pm

When you think about it, a record on a certain surface many be great, but focus on surface as a mark of greatness then brings up Nadals ABYSMAL record indoors. Why he failed again and again inside, including at all the ATP finals he made.
That, to anyone with objectivity, means that Federer and Djokovic were better all around players.
Nadal also tailed off after 2010 with few hardcourt wins and no grass ones. King of one surface, but not at Djokovic’s level (or Feds once he fixed his backhand vulnerability) on other surfaces.
I like Rafa and do not disparage his success. But clay is a subset of the job a pro tennis player does. Like, 66% of Nadal win’s are on clay. 0 indoors.
To me, the most impressive record of the Big Three is Federer’s magical 23 Slam semis in a row. A testimony to Federer’s consistent excellence on every surface. Many forget that before Novak got his act together, Federer was the second best clay court player in the ATP!

Next most impressive?? Career-wise, Novaks winning all the Big Events of the ATP not once but twice as career sweeps, lacking only another Monte Carlo win. Which Djokovic can only blame himself for being lackadaisical and treating it only as a warmup event for the Italian and French Open.

November 25th, 2024 at 3:18 pm

Well it was a thread about Rafa and his retirement, and his career achievements, but it became a Novak love fest, like everything else on here does, Nadal still has 22 regardless of all his short comings tennis wise, yet we always talk about what he hasn’t done, rather than what he has got

November 25th, 2024 at 3:49 pm

Novak extra

November 25th, 2024 at 4:20 pm

Ok, let’s talk about Rafa retirement, forget Nole, so why Roger hasn’t returned the favour to his dear friend and farewelled him in person like Rafa did for him, instead sending him “Bold and beautiful” scripted messages, little bit disrespectful, maybe a touch arrogant, what do you think?

Who can forget Rafa paying respect to his retiring friend:

https://youtube.com/shorts/Yr2DS65S_QY?si=WMblDVve3IX1wyXc

November 25th, 2024 at 5:12 pm

Novak extra, forget Rafa, let’s talk about Novak instead

November 25th, 2024 at 5:22 pm

…but only one of the big three mastered..the Blue Clay! ;-)

Top that.

November 25th, 2024 at 10:35 pm

Federer won and said it took some adjustment, but playing well on grass helped him adjust to blue clay.

Novak didn’t like it, saying it should have been tested on a Challengers or 250 level, not brought right into a Masters. It made Djokovic hesitant and not as confident. Janko Tipsarevic thumped him.
Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaYuSC3FWOI

Rafa though? It was sacrilege to the King of (Red) Clay and he ranted from Day one, then ranted after Verdasco smoked him in the third round. Then threatened he would boycott any tournament that used blue clay.

But now that Rafa has retired, it looked great optically. If they can make it less slippery, maybe bring it back.
In the meantime all hail Roger Federer, King of (Blue) Clay!

November 26th, 2024 at 4:09 am

Wog Boy. Neither Federer or Djokovic thought Spain would be booted by the Dutch in the quarters. They had planned honoring Nadal in person at the semis and had left schedule open for that.
Oh well….
Nadal should have retired at the French Open. The world was ready for a large, planned sendoff. But Rafa backed out. Shame for that and also for having the miserable bad luck to draw Novak in the 2nd round and go down easy to his Nemesis at the sacred site of Roland Garros.

November 26th, 2024 at 4:16 am

CF1,
The only problem for players that didn’t like blue clay was that the owner of the tournament, Romanian billionaire Ion Țiriac, couldn’t give a toss what the players think about blue clay, even if the name of player was Nadal. He decided it’s going to be blue and it was blue, if he wanted to make it in rainbow colours he would do it and nobody could stop him.

He was well know to reward people who were loyal to him and the opposite, when he had enough of Madrid tournament he sold it to IMG for €390 million.

Ion Țiriac was the last person you would like to upset or God forbid to cross…and he still lives in Romania, never bothered to move to some fancy place where the rich congregate.

November 26th, 2024 at 5:29 am

Anyway best wishes to Rafa Nadal on his retirement, 22 GS, 8 of them not on clay, but we don’t count that, it’s all about his shortcomings, so let’s discuss that instead 🤔

November 26th, 2024 at 1:14 pm

Anyway what was I thinking, let’s discuss Novak, as it’s Novak extra, forget Rafa

November 26th, 2024 at 1:16 pm

https://youtu.be/KFoAQapsJoM?si=LivJ3JTFB9NaZI8E Rafas career highlights, for Okie Giles, any Rafa fans although there’s not many of us left here 🙄

November 26th, 2024 at 4:48 pm

Thanks Alison for the links! I am behind on checking in with TX, Thanksgiving and all that”stuff-ing”….. lol! I’m worn flat smooth out……

Tennis channel is doing a tribute to Rafa this week. I saw a match I had never seen before. This match was before I was a Rafa fan. The 2004 Davis Cup final. Rafa vs Andy. Some of the best shot making I’ve ever seen. Andy’s net play was insane and Rafa’s passing shots got some racquet claps from Andy. I’m so glad I got to see this awesome match. I guess this was Rafa’s first big major win??? Andy was ranked #2 at the time. It was fun seeing the players at a young age. Verdasco had long hair. Mardy Fish was sporting a pony tail!!
Watching another classic. Rafa vs Fed at Rome. I’m really gonna enjoy TV this week-end!! Oh, I will take a break to watch my Sooners play LSU. It does not look good for us, we’re very weak this year. But you never know, we beat the Crimson Tide of Alabama! OU fans never saw that coming!!
BOOMER! 🏈🏈🏈

November 30th, 2024 at 1:29 pm

@Madmax……Wow, I was behind on TX conversations! I just now saw that you mentioned Okie! Hello!! If someone happens to mention the old heifer from Oklahoma I always want to respond. My Mom taught me proper etiquette! I hope you’re doing OK. I turned 79 in August and I will admit the old gray mare ain’t what she used to be! Lol

I’ll repeat…. I think we can all agree that it has been amazing to have been able to be entertained by this great era of tennis. It’s gone on for several years. Lots of awesome matches with other players than the big 3. I thoroughly enjoyed Andy, Gael, DelPo etc……….Your GOAT, my GOAT anybody’s GOAT. Goatism is in the eye of the beholder, just like beauty!! RAFA NADAL will forever be MY GOAT!! Best wishes to Rafa on his retirement as he enters the next phase of his life.

PS…… Regarding Roger not attending Rafa’s party, I’m confident he had his reasons. He’s a family man with a tribe to see after. The kiddos probably keep him hopping!! For all we know, they could have had a phone conversation???

Still watching the Rome final. Wow, what a sweet backhand Maestro Federer had! A tiebreaker….. gotta watch this!!

Sending good vibes for you all to have a wonderful holiday season and a great 2025!!

Have a great weekend!! 😊😊

November 30th, 2024 at 2:24 pm

“The 2004 Davis Cup final. Rafa vs Andy.”?

“I guess this was Rafa’s first big major win??? Andy was ranked #2 at the time.”?

Something is not right here?

November 30th, 2024 at 5:31 pm

^^^
My bad, was thinking of Andy Murray.

November 30th, 2024 at 5:48 pm

https://x.com/bastienfachan/status/1862896509093597476?s=61 Rafa fans

December 1st, 2024 at 6:46 am

Giles amazing picture thank you so much for sharing 🤗

December 1st, 2024 at 7:40 am

Okie lovely to see you hear, for me the thread got ruined days ago, it was supposed to have been about Rafas farewell ceremony and career achievements, yet it turned into a love fest about the other guy, his achievements, and Rafas shortcomings, like everything else on here lately, anyway hope you have a lovely Christmas and new year, stay safe, well and happy 🤗❤️🎾

December 1st, 2024 at 7:45 am

Okie my favourite ever Rafa match was the Wimbledon final in 2008, to this day, I’m just amazed by the shot making and brilliance of both players, I think TX should do a list of Rafas greatest matches, I would put the AO in 2022, the USO in 2019,to name a few, I could go on all day, but have work soon lol 🎾😀

December 1st, 2024 at 7:53 am

@Alison

There are so many nail biting matches. I loved Wimby 2008 also, but I think my favorite all time match was Aussie open 2022 against Meddy. How he pulled that off, I’ll never know. Two sets down and being the older guy, wowzer!! He’s the GOG for sure, Goat of Grit!! Also the Verdasco match at the Aussie open. It stands out too!

@Giles…….That pic was awesome!! Thanks for sharing! Loved it!

Is the guy who has a big problem with old people still on this site?? Asking for a friend!! 🤔🤔🤣🤣

December 1st, 2024 at 3:46 pm

I started to designate which “Andy”…….but I knew all the knowledgeable tennis minds involved in this chat would know which one I was talking about!! lol It’s good to know I stumped someone!!😜

December 2nd, 2024 at 12:53 am

Sorry to spoil your party, this is the best retirement I’ve ever seen, sad but joyful at the same time if you can comprehend it, good man Delpo retired:

https://youtu.be/mREiuQUlvu4?si=3W317MKt7AO_X6It

December 2nd, 2024 at 3:49 am

Okie goat of grit like it lol, yeah forgot about the Verdasco match, which was awesome, poor Verdasco, was heartbroken at the net, Rafa hugged him as he was a good friend, I don’t think anybody has a problem with you, or they shouldn’t anyway, it says more about them if they do, ageist people do exist though sadly it’s the world we live in 🙄

December 2nd, 2024 at 4:45 am

^^^^

https://youtu.be/cYbYSZQ-uf8?si=YNAcSoxcgdWfPBFp

December 2nd, 2024 at 4:47 am

Enjoy it, to great friends and great human beings, not bad tennis players either 😉:

https://youtu.be/SNNens08UOw?si=5iqkFht-AzjzkTry

December 2nd, 2024 at 4:50 am

Best wishes to Delpo on his retirement, and future away from tennis, one of those players that had all the talent, all the game, but his career sadly kept stalling due to a catalogue of injuries, should’ve won many GS, sadly a case of what could’ve been, rather than what was…

December 2nd, 2024 at 4:52 am

“two great friends” should say

December 2nd, 2024 at 4:55 am

Sharapova used to say, I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to win titles, I think Delpo and Andy were too friendly with Novak, maybe they would’ve / could’ve won more if they had concentrated on trying to beat Novak, rather than been best buddies with him, ce la vie

December 2nd, 2024 at 6:27 am

Glad Novak went. It meant a lot to Delpo and Argentina that one of the games best ever went to honor Juan’s retirement. Djokovic did the same for David Nalbandian and Fernando González. (Rafa also went to honor the two guy’s retirement).
Like with Thiem and Murray, such warriors! You wish those guys with their spirit and talent could have had the long, productive years of the Big Three.
Andy GOT there! #1. Got the ATP championships. Developed into a fine clay court top 10, maybe Top 5. Then the dang hip happened! BUt for a brief period of time he played the Big Three and made #1. The only player to do so.

December 3rd, 2024 at 11:56 pm