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Tennis
'Just a kid who followed their dreams!' - Rafael Nadal retires after glittering tennis career
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Rafael Nadal says he was "just a kid who followed their dreams" after his professional tennis career came to an end with defeat in the Davis Cup quarter-finals.
The Spaniard could not help his country past the Netherlands in the last-eight, losing his singles match with Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets.
It means the curtain has come down on a glittering career which saw the 22-time grand slam champion become one of the all-time greats across any sporting discipline.
Speaking afterwards during an on-court presentation, where rivals and friends paid tribute in a poignant goodbye, the 38-year-old reflected on his roots in emotional fashion.
"I'd like to be remembered as a kid that achieved more than I ever dreamed,", he said. "I have been very lucky in the life I have had the opportunity to live.
"I have lived unforgettable experiences because of tennis. I was just a kid that followed their dreams, worked as hard as possible to be where I am today.
"The way I'd like to be remembered most is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca. I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy.
"I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one. I understand that the love I have received, if it was just for what happened on the court, would not be the same."
Nadal follows on the heels of great rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray, who retired in 2022 and 2024 respectively, leaving Novak Djokovic as the last Big Four member.
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