Rafael Nadal's Full Retirement Ceremony _ 2024 Davis Cup Finals.

I'll start with those who are here today Thank you all the audience Honestly these have been 20 years of professional career in which you have always carried me on your shoulders In good moments you helped me win the next point and in bad moments Without a doubt you were pushing me to keep fighting and I have been able to live with all of you Obviously I want to generalize to all of Spain but also to the world in general Honestly I have felt extremely lucky to receive so much love from all over the world especially here in Spain I want to continue celebrating the Dutch team today I would like to thank the entire Spanish team that is here Only you all who have allowed me to live the dream of playing in the Davis Cup again It's clear that it didn't turn out as we all would have wanted I would have loved to have been able to help more than I did but honestly I gave everything I had And I want to sincerely thank you for giving me the opportunity to spend these last days as a team professional Many of the most exciting moments of my career I have lived through with many of you here It has been an incredible privilege and honor to be part of the Spanish team truly We have enjoyed it we have achieved many beautiful things together and now it's your turn to continue living them and I'm sure that's exactly how it will be Thank you very much to everyone truly Well the reality is that one never wants to reach this moment I honestly am not tired of playing tennis it's just that my body has reached a point where it doesn't want to play tennis anymore so we have to accept the situation I truly feel like a very privileged person I have been able to make one of my hobbies into a career and it has lasted much longer than I ever imagined I can only thank life and all these people who are here behind me Some are not here many are You have been family especially without a doubt Team friends It's not the right time to personalize because it's really hard and I'll end up forgetting people But you have been an unforgettable part of my daily life for all these years I am a person who believes in continuity in keeping the people who truly love you and who truly make your life better close to you This is what I have tried to do my whole life to keep the team together keep the family close and make few changes to my team And that has led me to not having a personal relationship with all of you only a professional one Truly having a personal relationship that goes much further than the professional careers we've shared Thank you so much for everything Without you none of this would have been possible and I mean it from the bottom of my heart I also know that it's a I don't want to go on too long honestly But anyway in that sense I also want to thank everyone who has been by my side at some point At the company level at the aid level to the Spanish Federation to all the sponsors who have accompanied me along the way Some have followed and have lasted a lifetime Others came into my life for a while Without exception incredibly grateful for the trust for supporting me unconditionally It has meant a lot to me to have the support of very important companies and especially that they have believed in me over all these years They have made me feel safe and really good about being part of all of your family Thank you all so much I don't want to forget the media honestly You have been with me accompanying me telling my story in many parts of the world Some traveling more others less but I want to thank you for the way you have treated me most of the time Sometimes I may have made mistakes in things played many games badly others well but I have felt very well treated by you And most importantly to me is that I believe there has always been a relationship of respect with all of you And even though you do your work and I do mine I greatly appreciate the way you have treated me and the way you have been able to tell the world my story It has been a precious story for me with some bad moments but the truth is that the majority have been really good and unforgettable So thank you so much for being part of my story as well To the entire sports industry the ATP the ITF everyone Well I've said it before but the Spanish Tennis Federation the Balearic Federation all of you who make this sport remain at the top of the world We are a global sport you make our sport continue to move masses and I encourage you to keep walking the path you have been following for so long I am a huge fan of sports in general I am retiring from professional tennis but I will still be here I hope to continue being a good ambassador for tennis That's what I've tried to do my whole life I've tried to work hard every day to better and achieve goals But I have tried to do it with respect with humility by valuing all the good things that have happened to me I think in some way I have tried to do something that is the most important thing in this world for me which is to be a good person I hope you have also perceived it that way Sincerely I am leaving the world of professional tennis having found many friends along the way I have so many people to thank who have been through tournaments people who have worked with me on the ATP It's hard for me to remember them all but I truly believe I'm leaving with the peace of mind that in some way I've left a legacy I really mean it not just in a sports context but also personally Because I understand that the affection I receive around the world if it were only because of what I have done on the track would not be the same Thank you so much for everything I want to say my final words of thanks to my family who has never failed me They have been with me in moments when things seemed impossible and in moments when things went well they kept me grounded They have hardly ever let me get up and I think that makes today's moment and what's going to happen in the future much easier to handle I know a process is coming I don't know if it will be difficult but all changes in life require an adaptation process And I am at peace because I truly believe that I have received an education that allows me to face what is coming with calmness With the personal satisfaction of having done everything I could until the end And honestly I'm calm because I have a great family around me who helps me with everything I need on a daily basis Many thanks Rafa in this incredible journey you've given us today you close a circle that somehow began in the 2004 Ibis Cup Your commitment to always defending Spain's colors both in the Ibis Cup and the Olympics has touched our hearts And in recognition of your incredible career today they are going to present you with a very special award two personalities from the world of sports The president of the ITF Mr David Haggerty and the president of the Real Federación Española de Tenis Miguel Díaz Román We would like to thank you for everything you have done for tennis and for the development of the sport around the world Thank you very much Mr Haggerty Miguel Díaz Rafa your millions your countless people who would today like to tell you so much with their hearts and souls The memories you have left us are unforgettable and since it's very hard to express them in words I'm going to ask you to look Rafa at that screen so we can all watch this video together A momentous occasion for Rafael Nadal the 17-year-old Spanish player making his debut in the Davis Cup Nothing for Spain Rafa Nadal the truth is that I can't think of anyone who better represents the values of sports and life Thank you very much on my part and I believe on behalf of many Spaniards for always making our hearts race for always moving us and for giving us so many so many joys The greatest athlete of all time with values both on and off the court that have inspired me in my career and also in my life My God you have been so important in my career you have inspired me to have so many winners to keep fighting to improve basically to play like you The passion and intensity with which you played is something I think all tennis players hope for and what all tennis fans will remember about you It has been incredible to see Your tenacity your fighting spirit the energy you've brought the power is something that will be studied and something that will be passed on to many generations to come It has been a great honor and a deeply moving experience to be called your rival The world of tennis and the world of sports will lose the incredible energy you've brought to the court There is much to embrace much to celebrate Hello Rafa I have been very lucky to see you grow as a tennis player and as a person I want to congratulate you of course on all your victories in your career very very special Congratulations on the most incredible career It's been a privilege playing against you but especially playing against you Some of my favorite moments with you Rafa of course in the 2008 Wimbledon finals where you beat me A transfer through generation after generation you will be eternal I wanted to thank you for all the moments we shared on the circuit for everything we have learned from you Thank you for filling our hearts with your tennis with your comebacks Your passion you put into every point I believe your legacy will be eternal I wish you all the best for what's to come with your wonderful family Congratulations on the most incredible career Spain are the 2019 world champions I'm going to make you very angry It will be strange to see tennis without you there I wish you the best for what is to come Hello my friend Congratulations on your incredible career A kiss for you and your family Congratulations very much A strong hug friend A huge hug and thanks for everything Rafa A very big hug and many thanks for everything Thank you very much and good luck friend Rafa you are retired now but your legacy begins now The question is simple How would you like to be remembered in the future Well I understand it in English In some way as I said before the titles and numbers are there So people probably know But the way I would like to be remembered is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca I was lucky to have my grandfather who was a tennis coach in my village when I was a very young child I had a large family that supported me at every moment He was a child who followed his dreams working as hard as he could to be where he is today In the end being honest a lot of people work hard a lot of people try their best every day But I am one of those who has been very fortunate in that life has given me the opportunity to have unforgettable experiences because of tennis So I just want to be remembered as a good person and as a child who followed his dreams and achieved more than I had ever dreamed Rafa you've shared clues with hundreds of players who admire you who love you who will always remember you Not everyone can be here but on behalf of all of them we are going to call a person who we would like to speak to you on behalf of the entire world of tennis He will not be here as your captain but as your friend as a player and as a great person David Ferrer Good evening Rafa I can speak on behalf of Spanish tennis and well I've been part of world tennis You know very well what this has meant for the world of this sport Don't ever forget the people who have been around you since you started playing tennis Many of them are here those who have made it possible for you to be who you have been professionally and personally a person who has been remembered all their life We would miss you a lot Rafa that will always remain in history I will always be brief because everything that can be said about you has already been said: values respect humility tenacity consistency You have given the example that any person any player would want to be You have done it But I always say that the best education is example You have been our example Our example as a person and our tennis example Rafa And finally there are people who are remembered for their achievements in life regardless of what they may be There are people remembered until the end of their days And there are people remembered forever You will be remembered forever Well really thank you very much for staying until the end It means a lot to me to have been able to say goodbye here in Spain in this case in Málaga I am more than happy and grateful for everything I've forgotten something before saying it and they are my biggest rivals My rivals have without a doubt made my career much longer and more successful than it would have been without having great rivals in front of me David has been one of them and others who are not here but I truly appreciate them for sharing so much together I bid you farewell as a professional tennis player I hope the person remains here for many years We will see each other safely and thank you all so much really Thank you a thousand thanks Rafa know that the pioneers who laid the first stones of Spanish sports are very proud of you Manolo Santana Seve Ballesteros Ángel Nieto Now they are applauding you from heaven because you hang the racket on the greatest Spanish athlete of all time May the flame you carried in the Olympic torch of Paris remain lit for all eternity Ladies and gentlemen if anyone is still sitting please stand up the race is over but a legacy begins Forever Rafa Naval