On Tuesday, November 19, renowned sportswear brand Nike paid tribute to Rafael Nadal with a striking billboard near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The gesture followed Nadal’s retirement from professional tennis after his final competitive match earlier that day at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain.
Passersby near the iconic Parisian landmark were captivated by the billboard, which showcased photos of Nadal alongside highlights of his illustrious career. It also prominently featured Nadal’s signature logo and Nike’s iconic ‘swoosh.’ The vibrant display illuminated the evening sky near the Eiffel Tower, creating a memorable sight.
Nadal’s decorated career came to a bittersweet end on Tuesday. The 22-time Grand Slam champion lost to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in Spain’s quarter-final tie in Malaga. Nadal did not go down without a fight in his final battle as he gave it his all, despite not being match ready. Nadal was playing a competitive match for the first time since the Olympics in August and the rust showed when he was trying to hit his way out of trouble against the World No. 80.
Nadal had said before the quarter-final against the Netherlands that he wasn’t sure of playing singles. However, Spain’s Davis Cup captain David Ferrer allowed him to open the team’s campaign in the quarter-final. Nadal showed flashes of his vintage self, but was not able to come up with a cohesive display against Zandschulp, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open.
Nadal was overwhelmed by emotions before the start of the match as his reddened eyes welled up when the Spanish national anthem was played at the venue. Nadal shook off the feelings and dug into his never-ending repository of grit.
At the end of the quarter-final, Nadal addressed the packed crowd with the humility that has been known for.
“The titles, the numbers—they’re there, and people probably know that. What I’d like to be remembered for more is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca,” he said, prompting thunderous applause from the crowd.
Even in the face of defeat, Nadal managed to lighten the mood with a touch of humour. “In some ways, it’s fitting that this was my last match—I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I’ve lost my last. So, we close the circle,” he said.
