Rafael Nadal's remarkable tennis career took an unexpected turn when Spain was eliminated from the 2024 Davis Cup Finals by the Netherlands. The 22-times Grand Slam champion's final match against Botic van de Zandschulp on Tuesday at the Davis Cup marked the end of an era. Nadal's retirement has left a void in the tennis world, with various stars paying tribute and social media abuzz with emotional messages.

Carlos Moya's Take on the Retirement Ceremony

Nadal's coach, Carlos Moya, shared his thoughts on the retirement ceremony in an interview with Onda Cero. He admitted, "It's not the time to blame anyone. But the feeling we're all left with is a bit scruffy and shabby. It's true that it's a Tuesday night, but this is sport, and it was known months in advance that if Spain lost, Rafa [Nadal] would retire." Moya believes the legend deserved a better send-off than what was given on that Tuesday night. "Nadal is far above all this. It has been a farewell that has not lived up to what Rafa Nadal means to the sport."

Images and Emotion

Toni Nadal also had issues with Malaga's tribute. He said, "I would have liked to see images of Rafa winning the Davis Cup in Seville, of Rafa at the Madrid tournament, at Roland Garros or Wimbledon, because this creates more emotion. I'm not trying to criticise anyone. I would have preferred something different, more in line with his career. Nowadays, much more emotional events can be organized by mixing music with images, and Rafa is a person whose images convey passion and emotion. If they had done this, it would have been more fitting."

Retirement Among the Greats

Nadal's retirement was a significant event, perhaps on a par with Roger Federer's in 2022. Andy Murray also retired after the Paris Olympics, having achieved multiple Grand Slam titles and the world number one ranking. Dominic Thiem retired earlier this year due to wrist injuries. Let's take a look at their career statistics:Name | Grand Slam titles | ATP Titles | Career-high rankingRafael Nadal | 22 | 92 | 1Andy Murray | 3 | 46 | 1Dominic Thiem | 1 | 17 | 3Ivo Karlovic | – | 8 | 14Steve Johnson | – | 4 | 21Joao Sousa | – | 4 | 28John Millman | – | 1 | 33

Other ATP Retirees

Among the other notable ATP retirees were Ivo Karlovic, Steve Johnson, Joao Sousa, and John Millman. They all left their mark on the sport with their titles. These big losses to the sport are significant, especially with Novak Djokovic now the last of the 'big three' remaining on tour. Fans will cherish the remaining years of Djokovic's career. But as some end their careers, others begin theirs, and stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have shown in 2024 that tennis is in good hands for years to come.