Rafael Nadal of Team Spain gets emotional while watching a video on the giants screens during his farewell after Spain being knocked out on the quarterfinal tie between Netherlands and Spain during the Davis Cup Finals at Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena on November 19,

Rafa returned to Mallorca on Wednesday, pronouncing his retirement with a big smile on his face. Never dreaming about achieving so much between 2005 and 2022, the Spaniard closed an important chapter of his life. At 38, he will focus on his family and tennis Academy while sharing his knowledge with the upcoming stars.

Nadal's greatest rival was probably not across the net, but his own body. "The only question with Rafa is physically how much his body can handle the pounding with how hard he works for every point," said American 14-times Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras in a 2010 interview with Reuters.

Rafael Nadal retires from professional tennis after a 23-year career like no other. On a night of gratitude and grief, Spain led the world in saying "Gracias Rafa".

Rafael Nadal's defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp, the world number 80 (6-4, 6-4), means that Carlos Alcaraz must win his match against Tallon Griekspoor to prevent Spain from being

It was an emotional farewell from tennis for Nadal this week after Spain was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup in Malaga

How closely have you been paying attention to what's been going on in the world over the past seven days? Try last week's quiz or have a go at something from the archives. Compiled by Ben Fell

He also spent his entire career battling his own body, with Nadal’s injuries both acute and chronic carving the trajectory of his career and to an extent the way he played tennis. King of clay. Warrior.

Rafael Nadal has lost 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup in what may have been the last match of his career.