he won three games in his last tournament in Madrid. The sixteen-year-old American Darwin Blanch did not challenge him, but in the second round, before the match against Alex de Minaur, the organizers were already ready to send Nadal off. However, the twenty-two-time Grand Slam champion is a Spanish tennis player he fought back against the Australian for the defeat in Barcelona a week earlier, and then he also won against the Argentine Pedro Cachín. Against the Czech Jirí Lehecka, however, the time has come to say goodbye.
Rafael Nadal has won the Madrid Masters five times. Source: ATP Tour
The match between Nadal and Lehecka was close, but a short period decided it: the Spaniard lost his serve at the end of the first game and at the beginning of the second, and he was never able to break his Czech opponent, fifteen years younger than him.
– It was amazing to be on the field with such a legendary player. A dream of mine came true. It’s a little bittersweet that I got such a great win in front of so many people cheering him on – said Leheckawho celebrated defeating the slag king very maturely and restrainedly.
The match that ended at midnight on Tuesday was not about Lehecka, he will continue the competition against Danyiil Medvedev in the quarterfinals, but it marked the end of Rafael Nadal’s last performance in Madrid.
Rafael Nadal’s farewell to Madrid
One of the greatest tennis players of all time is completing his farewell season on the ATP Tour. Compared to other iconic clay court venues, Nadal has won tournaments in Madrid “only” five times (2005, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017), and the first one was not on his favorite surface, but on an indoor hard court. However, even with these five successes, Nadal remains at the top in the Spanish capital, and the five successes are now commemorated by a molino above the center court in Madrid, which was erected at the farewell ceremony.
– I competed here for the first time in 2003, when the tournament was still held on an indoor track. In 2005, I felt for the first time that I started here with a chance to win the tournament, and I won the trophy. Since then I have received unconditional support from everyone. I have received a true gift from you for the past twenty-one years, worth more than any Grand Slam trophy I have won— said goodbye Nadal from Madrid fans.
Rafael Nadal: I haven’t retired yet
The Spanish tennis player emphasized: although this was his last performance in Madrid, he still has plans for the year. He also plans to compete in the Rome Masters starting next week, as well as Roland Garros – he won the former ten times and the latter fourteen times in his career.
This year, the Olympics will also be held at the Roland Garros tennis center in Paris, where Nadal would also compete, and according to plans, he will also compete in the Laver Cup in September, which was held two years ago by Nadal’s great rival, had a farewell event.
