London | Nadal – more than a tennis icon

We can speculate on what the future holds for Rafa Nadal once he has played his final shot as a professional tennis player in the Davis Cup finals in Malaga, a town in southern Spain 500 miles south west from his Majorca home.

From the child who watched you on television and dreamed of becoming a tennis player to the one who had the immense gift of playing alongside you at Roland Garros, representing Spain in the Olympic Games, thank you very much for being an example at all levels. Your legacy is unrepeatable Carlos Alcaraz

More family time with wife Maria and son Rafa Junior, coaching, punditry. One suggestion was that he might aim to become president of the football club he supports, Real Madrid.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano quotes Nadal saying: “Would I be excited to be President of Real Madrid? Of course I would be excited.

“I don’t have it in my life plan. If life gives me the opportunity and the conditions are met then, yes. We already have the best President.”

While we build up to Malaga and contemplate beyond, the good and the great have waxed lyrical in heartfelt tones about a player considered one of the greatest of all time following his announcement that he will retire after leading Spain in the World Cup of tennis in November. Not surprising given he won 22 Grand Slams – a record 14 at the French Open, four at the US Open and two at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open – plus two Olympic golds before injury hindered his progress in the last couple of years. He was No.1 for 209 weeks and rated one of the ‘Big Three’ with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic – or ‘Four’ if you include Britain’s Andy Murray – during a glittering 23-year career in an era rated the best of them all. And has charisma and humility shining out of every pore.

(Photo By Raul Terrel/Europa Press via Getty Images)

His millions of supporters around the globe have also piled in to create a social media frenzy with their reactions to the news. And it was one post in particular which summed the positive effect of his fame in a world which needs as much positivity as possible.

This fan, Karen Connelly, told the tale of the deepest emotional effect Nadal has had on her.

She wrote message to the 38-year-old: “Thank you Rafa. You gave me something to believe in after I’d lost everything. I’d lost my precious son who was just a bit older than you but profoundly disabled. My heart was shattered. A friend asked if I minded if she put tennis on TV. It was the 2006 US Open. This young Spanish boy kept falling to the ground in pain, getting back up never giving up. They asked him why didn’t you retire? You said it would be disrespectful to the fans. Your spirit captured a little piece of my heart.

“I watched a few more matches at her house. She was a huge (Roger) Federer fan. Yes, he was amazing – all precision and grace – but your spirit just touched my heart.

“My son had fought so hard in his life, was so strong, that I saw something in you, something to admire. You were so humble. I needed someone to care about and admire.

“I followed your career watching all your matches, recording them if I had to work and couldn’t see them live. I’d watch them in the middle of the night. I cried when you lost your first French Open. I cheered when you got your Olympic golds, your Grand Slams. Seeing you grow into a man, a husband and father.

“I realise the pain is great with the injuries and family life is hard and you have to take care of yourself. Just know you made a huge difference in my life. I adopted a dog three years ago and named him Rafa. He loves watching you play because he thinks try are all cheering for him. This is my Rafa.”

To touch the life of an individual in such a profound way gives you an idea of how Nadal was able to show that sport can help individuals struggling with their mental health.

It is the character of Nadal which is fundamental to his global appeal. Such a likeable bloke. Yes, he is known for being the most tenacious and fiery of tennis players. Who chases every ball. But he is also the player who gave a ball girl an immediate apology and a peck on the cheek for accidently firing a shot which clipped her face.

And he has always been unfailingly polite and considerate to his fans and even, in general, to the media.

On court, of course, he has provided entertainment by the bucketload.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer following their epic 2008 Wimbledon final

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

None more so than the classic 2008 Wimbledon final. Your writer was privileged to be courtside at a match rated the “greatest match I have ever seen” by John McEnroe commentating for the BBC. McEnroe rival Bjorn Borg, watching from the Royal Box, concurred.

Nadal defeated Federer, his greatest rival and the fire to the Swiss’ ice, in five sets after leading by two, over 4-hour.48-minutes in the gloaming of a roofless Centre Court.

And when Federer finally avenged the reverse – and final defeats at the Australian and French Opens in 2009 and 2011 – in Melbourne seven years ago, such was the respect the Swiss had for the Spaniard that he said after it: “Tennis is a tough sport. There are no draws, but if there was going to be one, I would have been very happy to accept one tonight and share it with Rafa.”

The respect was mutual. They teamed up in the doubles at the then 41-year-old Federer’s final event, the Laver Cup, in London and both sat courtside in tears with the emotion of the occasion overwhelming them.

Federer, who finished 24-16 down in his head-to-heads with Nadal, said after the Mallorcan disclosed he was quitting: “I always hoped this day would never come. Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love. It’s been an absolute honour.”

With Murray as well as Nadal retiring this year, Djokovic admitted to feeling “overwhelmed” being left as the lone survivor of the ‘Big Four’.

Novak Djokovic (L) and Rafael Nadal following their Olympic clash last summer

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

The 37-year-old, who has edged his head-to-head with the Spaniard, said: “Rafa’s been my greatest rival. The rivalry I had with him has impacted me the most in my career by far. We knew that that moment is coming sooner than later but it’s still a shock when it came officially.

“Also, for Roger a few years ago when he announced retirement and Andy as well this year. I mean it’s a bit overwhelming for me to be honest. I don’t know what to make out of it. I still enjoy competing but part of me left with them, a big part of me.”

Carlos Alcaraz, who partnered Nadal at the Paris Olympics and due to line-up with him in the Davis Cup, confessed it will be “difficult” without his “idol”.

The two-time Wimbledon champion, one of the new breed replacing the old guard, said: “He has been my idol since I started playing tennis. I look up to him. Proudly, thanks to him, I really wanted to become professional.

“Losing him, in a certain way, is going to be difficult for us, so I will try to enjoy as much as I can when he’s going to play.”

He is looking forward to linking up with Nadal in Malaga from 19-24 November.

Alcaraz, 21, said to Nadal: “From the child who watched you on television and dreamed of becoming a tennis player to the one who had the immense gift of playing alongside you at Roland Garros, representing Spain in the Olympic Games, thank you very much for being an example at all levels. Your legacy is unrepeatable

“I have enjoyed you very much and I will miss you very much when you leave after the Davis Cup, Rafa!”

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with partner Rafael Nadal after winning a match at the Paris Olympics

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

*Author/award-winning journalist Mike Donovan has written on tennis for more than 30 years, working for national newspapers and the official Wimbledon website as well as Tennis Threads with whom he authored a soft-backed publication on Andy Murray. He has also written a series of authorised Tottenham Hotspur-related books and has an updated version of Spurs Greatest Games coming out on Pitch this year. He is also working on a book based on his personal experience called F