Rafael Nadal bid farewell to his remarkable 23-year tennis career on November 19 in Malaga. Despite a heartbreaking loss for the Spanish team against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup, Nadal stayed composed. “I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one,” he stated during his post-match speech. However, the absence of his close friends and rivals, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, was notable. This left many wondering if Nadal felt their absence deeply or just took everything in his stride.

After years of rivalry and friendship on the court, another one of the Big 3 has hung up his racket. But even though Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were not at the Martin Carpena arena, they still made their presence felt. Federer posted a heartfelt letter on Instagram, signed with “Always, your fan.” Djokovic shared a video message on the Davis Cup’s Instagram page, congratulating Nadal on his incredible legacy and wishing him well.

The bittersweet nature of the day was clear as the Big 3 were not together for Nadal’s farewell. Former ATP star Guy Forget praised Nadal’s mental strength compared to his rivals. In an interview with Tennis Actu, he noted, “He was with those who mattered to him, in an official event for his country. The circle is complete. I think he will not hold it against Roger and Novak.”

“Roger has always been good at doing things well, at the right time. By definition, a tennis player is a loner. He is delighted with the support of others but…” he added, knowing that Rafa’s main goal for the event was to play at the event.

“I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one, so we close the circle,” Rafa had said after his last Davis Cup match. So he definitely held no regrets about anything. However, as Forget mentioned, “We would have liked it to be like Roger Federer in the Laver Cup for Rafa, but there you go.”

At the Laver Cup two years ago, Federer teamed up with Nadal for one last match, showcasing his brilliance alongside his longtime rival. The event was a celebration of his career, filled with gratitude and emotion, as fans and friends honored the Swiss legend’s extraordinary journey in tennis. Rafa’s farewell was just as emotional, even with the absence of his long-time rivals. Nadal’s fellow legends made up for their absence in their own unique ways though.

Looking ahead, Nadal aims to retire as a “good ambassador” for tennis, a role he has already begun embracing since stepping away from competition last month.

Rafa’s post-retirement adventures that merged with tennis

Rafael Nadal’s passion for the sport has remained undiminished. He is now focused on giving seminars at sports institutions and promoting the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy, signaling an exciting new chapter in his life. As the tennis season wraps up, top players are gearing up for their comebacks in 2025. And Rafa’s got a surprise waiting for them!

The Next Gen ATP Finals will take place from December 18-22, showcasing promising young talents like Arthur Fils, Alex Michelsen, and Jakub Mensik. Adding to the buzz, on Sunday, Saudi Tennis teased an upcoming surprise featuring Nadal on Instagram with the caption, “This one is for you, stay tuned 👀🎾!” This has sparked speculation about Nadal’s potential involvement in the tournament.

Not just this but on December 9, Nadal launched his first post-retirement collaboration with Playtomic, a sports app that connects players of similar skill levels. The humorous ad opens with him declaring, “I use Playtomic and it works great for me,” only to follow up with a playful twist: “Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend this app. You’re supposed to find players at your same level…but I can’t find anyone.” The ad concludes with him searching for his longtime rival Novak Djokovic on the app, quipping about the difficulty of finding competition.

Beyond this lighthearted promotion, the Spanish maestro has also been busy giving talks at the UAX Chamberi campus. Alongside this, he actively promotes his tennis academy, which he shares glimpses of on social media from time to time. Even though he has stepped away from playing, Nadal’s legacy in the sport will be there for years to come.