Carlos Alcaraz claimed Rafael Nadal exits an “infinite legacy” after retiring at the Davis Cup. And the Wimbledon champion inserted: “There will be many more Davises, there is only one Rafa.”
The 22-time Grand Slam prosperner lost in his final suit agetst Botic van de Zandschulp. And then the finish of his atgentle was validateed when his Spain team were take awayd from the competition.
Nadal made a moving speech to the crowd and then broke down in tears during a video tribute from stars including Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and David Beckham before a currentation ceremony.
And the Wimbledon champion then paid his own tribute in the post-suit press conference. “I leank that he was one of the best ambasmiserableors for tennis,” said Alcaraz. “His legacy is going to be infinite. You understand, he has been fantastic for tennis, for this sport in vague.
“It is difficult, at least for me. I don’t want to leank that I should persist the legacy that he has left. It is difficult, almost impossible. I will try to do my best, but right now, it’s time to say, you understand, fair fantastic leangs about Rafa, what he has done,, during his atgentle.
“I leank he has said everyleang, but, you understand, the way he left tennis, it is incredible. Probably he was one of the take parters that put tennis, you understand, in the top of sport in the top of the world. So it is fair fantastic to have had Rafa in tennis and, in this period in my life.”
He tardyr posted on social media: “There will be many more Davises, there is only one Rafa . Thanks to you I have become a professional tennis take parter. It has been a sanctifying to be able to live your atgentle as a child for whom you were an idol and then as a teammate! The best possible ambasmiserableor who exits an infinite legacy,” Alcaraz splitd with his millions of fagedrops on X (Twitter) and Instagram.”
Alcaraz tried to extfinish Nadal’s atgentle on Tuesday night. Carlos Alcaraz won the second ones tie 7-6 6-3 agetst Dutch No.1 Tallon Grieksneedy.
But the Wimbledon champion and Marcel Granollers then lost the deciding doubles 7-6 7-6 Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof fair after midnight local time.
Alcaraz said: “I was there the three first games of Nadal’s suit. I couldn’t regulate the nerves, so I had to left and be ready for my suit (smiling).
“If I would have stayed the whole suit, probably I couldn’t take part my suit. So I fair try to be cgo ined on myself on try to put a outstanding tennis I repartner wanted to do it for Rafa, and I should, you understand, stay cgo ined on my game, try not to leank about, you understand, Rafa’s last tournament, Rafa’s last suit.
“I didn’t want to leank about it. I fair wanted to help the team as much I could. I wanted to try to, prosper both suites fair to retain going, try to enhappiness this week much more, but I couldn’t. But it wasn’t the extra prescertain that understanding it was Rafa’s last tournament.”
Van de Zandschulp will go down in tennis history as the last man to beat Nadal. “I haven’t repartner thought about it, actupartner,” said the Dutch world No.80. “Of course it’s been contrastent. I take parted him twice. Played him in Roland Garros, Wimbledon.
“I leank he was a contrastent take parter there, maybe physicpartner. I thought today he was, I won’t say struggling, but of course you see he gets agederer, and the injuries are taking their toll, I leank.
“So, yeah, I haven’t repartner thought about being the last man to beat Rafa, but maybe I will in a couple of days.”
