Rafael Nadal’s coach has described the Spaniard’s farewell ceremony at the Davis Cup as ‘scruffy and shabby’. Nadal played the final match of his career on Tuesday night as he lost in straight sets to Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup quarter final in Malaga.

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".

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.

Carlos Alcaraz has already accomplished more at the age of 21 than most tennis players will in their entire career, but he understands trying to equal

Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest men's tennis players in history, closed out his legendary career playing for Spain in the Davis Cup.

Rafa Nadal will not dwell on his impending retirement at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga and only focus on helping Spain claim the trophy this week should he be called into action, the 38-year-old said on Monday.

Rafael Nadal's retirement from tennis serves as a reminder that for all of his Grand Slam titles and other successes, his greatest legacy might be the qualities that inspired Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and other younger players.

Nadal won 22 Grand Slam titles in his career and retires as one of the greatest men's tennis players of all time.

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