Rafael Nadal takes a slightly different way out than Roger Federer

It ended too early for most tennis fans. Even if one was not from Spain, a person might have been rooting for Spain to win its first Davis Cup Final tie simply so Rafael Nadal could continue his career for just a little bit longer. Nadal lost his match on Tuesday, Carlos Alcaraz helped by winning his, but then Alcaraz and doubles partner Marcel Granollers could not hold off the Netherlands in the deciding match.

A ceremony that many hoped would happen a few days later was forced to occur late on Tuesday night as we had to say goodbye to Nadal. The ceremony was respectful, and the Spanish crowd was certainly appreciative of their home-nation hero, but the emotions were simply not as high as they were when Roger Federer retired at the Laver Cup in 2022.

There was, of course, nothing wrong with the way either player said goodbye, but final farewells did expose the differences between the two men, both on the court and off it. Federer was much more like Alcaraz is currently during matches. His immense skill at times being too great for his decision making and taking too many chances.

Rafael Nadal says goodbye in a way only he can

Nadal was a much more efficient player, and more efficient with his emotions. On the court, he was rarely bombastic, and if he did get upset, the mood quickly passed as there was the next point to worry about. Top-ranked Jannik Sinner resembles Nadal quite a bit currently.

Sure, Nadal's goodbye was emotional, but not overly teary. He seemed fine with the end, knowing it had been coming for quite some time as he had had to battle injuries for the last two years. His body simply could not take the pounding of the sport anymore. Nadal was wealthy and happy, and ready to leave.

He spoke at length at the end, of course, but he was completely self-aware, dropping statements such as "It’s in some ways good maybe if that was my last match. I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one, so we close the circle." There was no hint he was rethinking retirement.

Plus, tennis fans can be assured Nadal will not disappear forever. Like Federer, the Spanish great will maintain a presence in the sport. He has his excellent tennis academy to help oversee, and he will always advise players such as Alcaraz should they ask. One can also safely assume he would advise with the same characteristics he has shown as a man: Efficient, intelligent, and classy.

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