“Nadal – the son every mother would like to have”

One of my favorite quotes from Rafael Nadal comes from the 2014 French Open.

“I think our generation is now on the way out,” said the Spaniard.

“We have been here for a long time. One generation is leaving and others will replace us. It won’t come overnight, but it will come.”

Nadal uttered these words 10 years ago. Since then, he has won a further nine Grand Slam titles, a fourth Davis Cup trophy and been number one in the world five more times.

How very typical of his outstanding generation.

Serena Williams almost made it to 41, Roger Federer played at Wimbledon a month before his 40th birthday, Andy Murray defied medical predictions and fought to 37, and Novak Djokovic managed to surpass most of them.

Nadal played Djokovic 60 times over 18 years, but it was his rivalry with Federer that was the heartbeat of his career.

Both often went onto the pitch wearing a headscarf, but that's where the similarities ended.

Nadal could opt for a sleeveless top and pirate pants; Federer wears a cream-colored cardigan embossed with his initials.

After the coin toss was completed, Nadal zigzagged toward the baseline while Federer leisurely strolled toward the back of the court.

Federer's grace and economical use contradicted his aggressive instincts. If the workings of his engine were carefully kept secret, one could see the pistons pumping and sparks flying as Nadal took to court.

The physicality of his delivery was breathtaking, the intensity of his spin intimidating and the banana-shaped forehand across the board a devastating crowd pleaser.

Nadal won 24 of his 40 matches against Federer, including their first hard-court meeting in Miami in 2004.

But two in particular stand out.

The 2008 Wimbledon final was one of the greatest sporting duels of all time. Nadal was too excited to sleep much the night before the final and watched movies until the early hours of the morning, but in the fading light he denied Federer a sixth consecutive title that same evening by winning the deciding set with Won 9:7.

Nine years later, Federer celebrated perhaps his greatest triumph when he recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the fifth set of the 2017 Australian Open final to triumph in his first competition in six months at the age of 35.

Nadal was also there for Federer at the end as they cried and held hands after the older man's farewell performance at the 2022 Laver Cup.

Their mutual affection was often evident on the pitch and was evident when they met to promote a 2010 charity match in Switzerland.

“Do you know what you’re going to get me for Christmas, Rafa?” asked Federer.

The giggling became contagious and only after many, many takes did Nadal finally manage to explain that he would indeed be coming to Zurich to play the following October.

When you think of Nadal, you think of Federer – and also of Roland Garros.

Nadal won the title there 14 times and is a permanent presence in the form of a 3 m high steel statue.

Nadal named his two favorite triumphs in 2006 and 2010 when speaking to the BBC ahead of the clay court major in 2015.

“2006 was a special year because I suffered a very serious injury at the end of the year (a very rare congenital condition in his left foot) and the doctors weren't very sure if I would be able to compete again at the highest level.” , he remembers.

“And obviously 2010 was pretty special after the loss in 2009.”

The loss to Sweden's Robin Söderling in the fourth round was Nadal's first defeat in Paris. It was a breathtaking moment, a shock heard around the world and one that only a select few can share.

The Nadal I met in interview rooms and players' areas was always very likeable. When the interview took place on camera, he shook hands with the entire crew, and often there was a hug for the stenographers who were busy writing down his thoughts.

We will miss the quizzical expression and raised left eyebrow as he answered questions.

We may not miss the slow game, but I'm already nostalgic for Rafa's routines.

The cuff that followed the tugging of his shorts; the lifting of his shirt from both shoulders; squeezing his nose and running his fingers through the sweaty hair above his ears.

And the two bottles that, after taking a sip of each, had to be carefully put back in exactly the same place, a few centimeters apart.

I haven't mentioned the knees yet, which cost Nadal a lot of time on court. He often said that he loved playing on hard courts, but his body didn't appreciate it as much.

“Maybe we will pay the price at age 45,” he said in Indian Wells in 2019.

“When I see some old legends on tour, it’s hard to tell.”

The advantage is 22 Grand Slam titles, Olympic gold in both singles and doubles, a participation in four Spanish Davis Cup victories and 209 weeks as world number one – also something much more difficult to achieve and perhaps more special than anything , what can fit in a trophy cabinet.

“I think Rafa did more than just being a great tennis player,” compatriot Feliciano Lopez told the BBC in a 2015 documentary about Nadal.

“In society in general in Spain, everyone loves him as a person. The way he behaves on the pitch – he always fights until the end – that makes the connection with people possible.”

“He’s the son every mother would love to have.”