Rafael Nadal tributes continue to flow

The tributes have been flowing for Rafael Nadal after he pulled down the curtain on his remarkable tennis career at the Davis Cup Finals and now his manager Carlos Costa has posted an image that highlights his travels around the world with the 22-time Grand Slam champion.

Nadal’s last match came against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup, with a lavish ceremony in front of his adoring Spanish fans stirring the emotions in Malaga.

A moving video featuring tributes from the likes of Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and David Beckham, with Nadal clearly moved as the final chapter of his professional tennis career was written.

“The titles, the numbers are there so people probably know that, but I would like to be remembered more as a good person from a small village in Majorca,” he said.

“I had the luck that my uncle was a tennis coach and I had a great family. Just a kid who followed their dreams and worked as hard as possible to be where I am today.

“But a lot of people try their best every single day. I have been very lucky in the life I have had the opportunity to live, I have lived unforgettable experiences because of tennis. I’d like to be remembered as a kid who achieved more than I ever dreamed.”

The end of this era of Nadal’s brilliance will also impact the settled team he has had around him for many years, with business manager Carlos Costa a key member of his team.

A former top-ten-ranked singles player, Costa worked with Nadal during his time with the management company IMG before he set up his own business with Nadal in recent years.

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Along with his uncle and long-standing coach Toni and his close family, Nadal has had a settled team of people around him over the last couple of decades and Costa has been part of that inner circle.

Now he has posted an Instagram message featuring an image of the huge collection of tournament accreditation passes he has been given during his travels with Nadal over the years.

“22 years around the world enjoying a great Rafael Nadal in the best tournaments in the world,” he wrote alongside the image.

Nadal has not given any hints of what he will do in his post-tennis life, but he will remain a huge presence in the sport and must surely have a lot to offer.

His Academy in Mallorca will ensure he continues to have an active role in tennis and controversially, he is also an ambassador for the Saudi Arabian Tennis Federation.

“Every change requires an adjustment process, but I’ve been raised to understand that I’ve done everything I could,” said Nadal as he looked back on his tennis story and what comes next.

“My family has never let me down. They’ve been there for me during tough times and kept me grounded when things were going well. That makes facing the future much easier.”

Nadal may not be a pro tennis player any more, but his status as the greatest sportsman Spain has ever produced will ensure that he has a big impact in whatever he decides to do next.

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