It all got a bit too much for Rafael Nadal.
As the Spanish national anthem echoed around the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in Malaga, Nadal was overcome with emotion as tears welled in his eyes.
After the anthem had finished, Nadal lifted his hand to the air and mouthed ‘Gracias’ to the Spanish fans cheering his name.
Nadal’s emotional state was understandable given he is competing in what could very well be the final tournament of his illustrious career.
The 38-year-old is a member of Spain’s team alongside world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers for their Davis Cup finals tie against the Netherlands.
Nadal aims to get Spain off to the perfect start as he takes on 80th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp in the first singles tie.
Should Nadal win, Alcaraz has the chance to wrap up the contest in his singles match against Tallon Griekspoor.
But should either Spaniard lose their singles match, the tie will be decided by a doubles contest where Alvarez will partner Granollers against Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof.
Emotions were evidently running high in Malaga given the implications of Nadal’s contest and a heartwarming 585-word note from longtime rival Roger Federer only added to the occasion.
Federer, a 20-time grand slam champion, shared an iconic rivalry with Nadal at the height of his career as the pair locked horns 40 times, 24 of which came in finals.
Nadal got the better of Federer 24 times, but it didn’t stop the Swiss maestro from sharing his heartfelt feelings about the king of clay.
“We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together,” Federer wrote on social media.
“Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud… you made the whole tennis world proud.”
Federer and Nadal even teamed up for the former’s final event at the 2022 Laver Cup, with both men left in tears at the end of their doubles match against the Rest of the World.
Federer wrote: “Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.”
