I admire you, Rafael

The inevitable moment we all hoped would never come has arrived. Last Thursday, at 11 a.m., Rafael released a video announcing his decision to withdraw from competition, marking the end of his professional tennis career. He also shared that the chosen setting for his farewell would be the Davis Cup Finals, scheduled to take place this November in Málaga.

For months, he delayed this decision, even though he knew it had to be made sooner rather than later. It wasn’t easy for him to close such a significant chapter of his life and step away from something he had done successfully since childhood, for as long as he could remember. In his case, there was also a particular circumstance that caused him to extend his farewell.

Rafael learned to live with pain for many years, mastering it on numerous occasions and, saw how despite his doubts and uncertainties, he often emerged not only victorious but stronger. This was one of the reasons he repeatedly postponed his carefully considered decision. It is well known that he is used to fighting until the very end, as he did in many matches when the odds were clearly against him, finding it difficult to concede defeat. In the last two years, he has simply continued his usual pattern of giving himself every possible chance — driven more by faith than logic. Ultimately, he has only agreed to accept the undeniable reality when it became clear that his body could no longer give any more.

Today, I can say with certainty that Rafael has fulfilled the promise he made to me a few years ago during a conversation at a club. I told him that a well-known former tennis player had once confided in me his dissatisfaction with his career — not because he hadn’t won more titles, but because of his lack of perseverance. Concerned, I urged my nephew not to make the same mistake. With more determination than I expected, Rafael responded, “Relax, Toni. When I go, it will be with the peace of mind that I gave it everything.”

Now, after a few days, as I face the impossible task of putting my feelings about his retirement into words, my mind fills with nostalgic images — memories of moments lived and shared by Rafael’s side.

What it has meant to me, from the early days of his tennis journey — when I watched him, racket in hand, pacing restlessly around the Manacor Tennis Club, eager for his turn to train with me — until his final strokes on the court, when I watched with concern as neither his shots nor his legs responded with the same freshness and strength as before, is beyond what words can express. Everything that has transpired between those distant years and this final chapter, from his first victories in youth tournaments that hinted at what was to come, to his last great triumphs in Melbourne and Paris, feels like the realization of an almost perfect dream.

Those were intense years in which I had the privilege of experiencing incredible moments alongside him: his first Davis Cup final in Seville as an unexpected debutant, his first French Open title in 2005, and his victory at Wimbledon in 2008, in a legendary final against Roger Federer, widely regarded as the best in history. But there were also challenging moments, such as the diagnosis of his congenital injury in 2005 — a sword of Damocles that forced him to live with pain and uncertainty. These trials helped him forge an even stronger character and caused him great suffering, though they rarely led to discouragement or complaints. For us, it would have been ungrateful to give in to either. In difficult times, I often repeated a phrase I’ve mentioned here before: “Rafael, life has treated us better than we expected and far better than we deserved.”

Rafael’s career has been incredibly successful, far surpassing my expectations, even though I always had unwavering faith in him. This success — his remarkable track record — has earned him the admiration and valuable support of countless fans. But what has truly garnered him such widespread respect and recognition, even beyond the stands, is not just the number of titles he has won. It’s the fact that he built his achievements on a foundation of strong values, and his ability to uphold them throughout his career: his integrity, his exemplary behavior in both victory and defeat, the passion he brought to every match, and his unwavering commitment to the sport and everything surrounding it. He embraced adversity and found ways to overcome it, and above all, he always showed respect for his rivals, regardless of their stature — even when some of them dealt him the most painful defeats of his career.

There are athletes who, due to their exceptional abilities, have become leaders in their disciplines; others who have magnified and even transcended their own sports; and only a few who, through their attitude and actions, have moved beyond the realm of sports to become leaders in society. I believe, without fear of being mistaken and fully prepared to accept any criticisms that may come my way as his uncle, that my nephew, like his greatest rival for many years, Roger Federer, belongs to the latter category.

Starting in November, the trophies that rest in the showcases of his Academy’s museum in Manacor will gradually lose their shine and splendor. However, I have no doubt that Rafael will always cherish and greatly value his most precious reward: the immense affection and appreciation of the people in our country and many others around the world.

All that remains is for me to bid him farewell with the admiration he has consistently inspired in me for his almost heroic way of fighting, for how he has always faced adversities and challenges, and for his ability to handle both victories and defeats with equal grace. Above all, I wish to express my immense gratitude for allowing me to accompany him during this stage of his life, which has brought me profound happiness.

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