After a tearful final goodbye, Rafael Nadal signed off to his fans with a 5-7, 4-6 loss against Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round of the Madrid Open, but not before writing one of the final chapters in his Madrid Open story.
The five-time champion of the event, in 2005, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2017, wrote his final chapter in the Madrid Open saga against Lehecka. Their fourth-round battle lasted a gripping two hours and two minutes.
A victory would have set Nadal up for his 60th win in Madrid, but his record, 59 wins to 15 defeats, stands after his first match in the Madrid Arena back in 2003 against Álex Corretja.
Leaving the court, Nadal signed off in an emotional ceremony on the court, where banners commemorating his five titles in 2008, 2010, 2013-2014, and 2017 unfurled from the closed roof, Madrid's way of paying tribute to its favorite son.
Looking back on the journey, Nadal was grateful, as he declared, "It's been a very special week for me, very positive in many ways, both personally and for my tennis career. I had the chance to play again on court. A few weeks ago, two days before Barcelona, I didn’t know if I would compete in an official match again and I’ve now played two weeks. It’s been unforgettable."
He continued with heartfelt words, saying, "The only thing I can say is ‘thank you’. It’s been an incredible journey that started when I was little. I came to Madrid for the first time in 2003, when the tournament was played indoors. The first time I came here feeling competitive was in 2005. It was one of the most exciting wins of my career, still indoors. Ever since, the support has been unconditional from everyone. I cannot thank you enough."
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