Why Nadal didn’t cry: “I’ve not finished my journey with a racquet in hand…”

The Spaniard explained why he was not emotional as a montage of his five Madrid wins were played on the screens inside the Caja Magica

Zuma / Panoramic

Simon Cambers

May 1, 2024

As the montage of Rafael Nadal‘s five previous Madrid Masters title wins were played on the screens inside the Caja Magic on Tuesday night, the Spaniard’s family and friends could not contain their emotions, the tears flowing as they took in the enormity of the moment.

By contrast, Nadal himself stood in the middle of the court, with a smile on his face.

The man who has dominated clay-court tennis almost since the moment he arrived on the scene more than two decades ago was enjoying the moment, as well he might. But there were no tears, and for that, there is a reason. He’s not done yet.

“I didn’t want to deliver a sea of tears just because I’ve not finished my journey with racquet in hand,” Nadal told Spanish reporters, after his Madrid Open run was ended by Jiri Lehecka, 7-5, 6-4 in the fourth round. “It was a very emotional night – more you could not (imagine). But it’s not the moment to release it all now when it comes to emotions and feelings. I still have miles to cover and I don’t want to release all the adrenaline.”

Later, speaking to Tennis TV, Nadal said he had made a point of not looking toward his family, coaches and friends.

“I tried not to look at them, honestly, because I didn’t want to cry,” he said. “Even if it’s an emotional day, it’s not my last match. I’m not retiring yet. Just saying goodbye to a very special place for me and things need to keep going.

I don’t know when’s going to be my last match but I don’t want to become too emotional because I want to try to keep going for a while and just trying to keep focused on my path. Today it’s a night that’s going to stay in my heart for ever but at the same time I try to be strong enough to keep going because it’s not yet enough.”

🗣️"It’s not my last match, I’m not retired yet" @RafaelNadal says goodbye to Madrid but is fully focused on his path ahead💪 pic.twitter.com/urFAaXGiYE
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 1, 2024

“I’ve been able to say goodbye on court, which moved me a lot”

That will be music to the ears of Nadal fans and tennis fans in general who feared that Madrid would not only be the last time he would play in Spain, but also that it might be his last ever tournament.

Instead, he leaves Madrid encouraged by his physical state, which seems vastly improved from where he was just a few weeks ago, losing to kids in his academy, wondering if he would get the chance to play at the highest level again, desperately hoping to end his stunning career on his own terms.

“When I arrived in Madrid, these were difficult days, but that’s the way it is now. My body is sending me signals for some time now. I’ve been able to say goodbye on court, which moved me a lot because that’s what I wanted.”

Nadal: “First set against Lehecka was my best since competing again”

Watching the montage – and the unveiling of five flags, one for each of titles – in the Caja Magica, which was still packed after midnight, was also a reminder of how dominant Nadal has been, even in the Spanish capital, where altitude made him slightly vulnerable to the biggest hitters. He still managed to win the title five times, and with his 11 Monte-Carlo wins, 12 Barcelona titles, 10 Rome wins and record 14 Roland-Garros triumphs, his place in history has long been assured.

He turns 38 next month – “I’ve never imagined being there doing so at 38,” he said – but the way he performed in Madrid, especially in beating Alex de Minaur and in pushing Lehecka hard in the fourth round, provides grounds for optimism as he looks to navigate the final months of his career.

Whether that includes another crack at Roland-Garros remains to be seen but he intends to play Rome next week and see how he feels after that. His performance against Lehecka, he said, leaves him encouraged.

“I have taken steps forward in every sense and now we have to consolidate this advance,” he said. “I arrived here with doubts in every way and I leave with fewer doubts. Most of the first set was my best first set since I’ve been competing again. It’s the day I felt I was best positioned on the court.”