At the 2024 Madrid Open this week, Rafael Nadal was all business, which is understandable, although some had anticipated more emotion from the Spaniard given that it was his final tournament there.
Though Nadal hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best outcomes at the Madrid Open, he has had some incredible success there. The Spaniard is a five-time winner and clearly enjoys coming back to the event, especially with the support of his home audience.
But, as he stated earlier this week, this year’s version was his last. Many were astonished by his rather stoic reaction to the situation. He shed a lot of tears during Roger Federer’s retirement ceremony, as we all recall. So many people anticipated that he would show some emotion.
Though there’s a reason he didn’t fully display it,. There’s not much incentive to get attached because this isn’t his retirement. After the ceremony and his defeat to Jiri Lehecka, he talked about it, taking stock of the entire event and explaining why he thought there wasn’t much emotion on his part.” I try not to give them my full attention. I was trying not to cry. Even if it’s a difficult day for me, you know, this isn’t my last match. I’m saying farewell to a really precious spot for myself, not that I’m retiring just yet; things must carry on for me.
Given that his parents were present and that everyone was aware of the moment’s importance, Nadal’s night was undoubtedly emotional. Although it’s not a true retirement, it was one from the Madrid Open because it’s unlikely that he will ever play in La Caja Magica again.
Though he will always treasure the evening, his thoughts are now on the Italian Open.
“I want to keep going for a while, so I don’t know when my last match will be, but I don’t want to become too sentimental. I’m just trying to stay focused on my path, so even though this night will always hold a special place in my heart, I also try to muster the strength to press on since it’s not quite enough.”
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