R. Nadal, who did not stop the Czech tennis talent, bid emotional farewell to Madrid Sports

In the men’s singles round of 16, the 37-year-old veteran had to admit the superiority of the talented Czech tennis player Jiri Lehečka (ATP-31) with the result 5:7, 4:6.

After the match, a special honoring ceremony was held for R. Nadal, and five flags symbolizing the Spaniard’s five triumphs in Madrid – in 2005, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2017 – were raised on the arena deck.

“It was a very special week for me, very positive both for tennis and for personal things. I gave myself a chance to play this card again. A few weeks ago, two days before the tournament in Barcelona, ​​I didn’t even know if I would even be able to play an official match, and now I’ve been playing for almost two weeks. I will never forget it,” Rafa said, making his closest people cry.

Now all the attention of the tennis player should be directed to Rome, where in a little more than a week, another championship of the “Masters” series will start. After their grudge, the king will make an important decision – whether his body will be ready to play the matches until the 3-set victory at Roland Garros.

“I will try to play in Rome. It is also a very special tournament for me, which I have won 10 times. I dreamed of playing all these tournaments at least once more. I missed Monte Carlo, but I really want to play in Rome. Today I say goodbye to Madrid, but my career still continues.

I’m still not sure about Roland Garros. Four matches were played here. I leave Madrid in a much better mood than when I came here. For now, it’s hard to imagine resounding victories at my current level, but in sports everything can change very quickly,” said Rafa.

The former world number one also revealed at the press conference that this might not be his last meeting in his hometown, as the tennis player considers the Davis Cup finals at the end of the season.

If everything goes according to plan, R. Nadal should also play at Wimbledon and at the Olympic Games in Paris, where he would like to perform in doubles with the young Carlos Alcaraz. The “Laver Cup” championship is also waiting for the Spaniard.