Rafa Nadal played the last official match of his sporting career this Tuesday. It was in the Davis Cup, in Málaga, and he lost against the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. From that moment on, the displays of affection, admiration, and respect towards the tennis player from Manacor have been endless. Tributes have been paid from all areas to who is probably the greatest Spanish athlete in history.
Golf, a sport Rafa has been in love with for years, could not be immune to this wave of gratitude. Many golfers have taken the opportunity in the last few hours to share images of the Mallorcan genius on their social networks, as well as reflections on his career and the impact he has had on their lives in one way or another.
One of the most emotional messages, both for what it says and who says it, came from Rory McIlroy. Just two days after winning the Dubai Finale and claiming his sixth Order of Merit on the European Tour, the Northern Irish star dedicated some beautiful words to the Spaniard. He posted it on his social networks minutes after it was confirmed that Spain was eliminated from the Davis Cup and, therefore, it was known that Nadal had already played his last match.
“Since I saw you win your first Grand Slam in 2005 until the last in 2022, you have been a hero and an inspiration to me on how to approach my own sporting career. We will miss you greatly and tennis will never be the same without you.
Congratulations on being one of the greatest athletes of all time. See you soon on the golf course.
Your friend,
Rory”
McIlroy, like so many others, is eager to see Rafa Nadal playing golf at whatever level he can. Certainly, it will not be surprising to see him soon in some prestigious ProAms such as Pebble Beach or the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. It’s a start…
