Avid fans of Rafael Nadal will miss his masterful serve and lightning-fast reactions as the tennis ace announces he will soon retire after a 20-year career.
Nadal is a 22-time Grand Slam champion and is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
He has battled injuries in recent years, but his last act on the court will be playing for Spain at home in the Davis Cup at the end of November.
But after the 38-year-old athlete Manacor, Spain announced his intention to resign in a shocking statement this morning, some fans have recalled the strange ritual he used to perform before and during matches, which they will soon see for the last time.
Rafael Nadal carefully lines up two Evian bottles side by side, making sure the labels are always facing the court as part of his routine.
This includes obsessively touching her body and hair multiple times and adjusting her shorts.
Legions of fans who watch Nadal’s matches have taken notice of the star’s torturous routine over the years and commented about it online.
The All England Club ball boys know this peculiarity and are even trained in the eccentricities of the Spanish.
The routine before a service follows a pattern that includes adjusting his shorts in front and back, touching his left shoulder, then his right, before tucking his hair behind his ears, pinching his nose and touching his cheeks.
A final stroke of his forearm across the forehead seems to indicate that he is ready to serve.
On second serves, Nadal will stop touching the shoulders.
Nadal explained the reason for undertaking his regime in his 2011 autobiography, Rafa: My Story.
He wrote: ‘Some call it superstition, but it is not. If it were superstition, why would you keep doing the same thing over and over again, win or lose?
“It’s a way of placing myself in a match, ordering my surroundings to match the order I’m looking for in my head.”
His routine also includes taking off his jacket facing the crowd, jumping while doing so, and carefully lining up two Evian bottles side by side, making sure the labels always point toward the court.
And when he heads to his chair, Nadal will only cross the line with his right foot and once he has received his two towels.
During his routine, Nadal will tuck his hair behind his ears, pinch his nose and touch his cheeks.
The ball boys at the All England Club know his superstitious routine and are even trained in the eccentricities of the Spanish
On second serves, Nadal will stop touching the shoulders.
The videos of his routine accumulated many comments from fans who said they enjoyed watching Nadal when he plays matches.
However, some opponents find Nadal’s regime irritating.
Nick Kyrgios, who lost to Nadal in an emotional match in July 2022, complained about him during a match at the Mexican Open in 2019.
The Australian said he complained to referee Damien Dumusois about Nadal’s slow play between points. “Tell him,” he shouted. “It’s only taken 20 years, all of you, to tell him.”
However, Kyrgios reacted today to the news of Nadal’s retirement, writing on X: “Rafa don’t retire, I want to play with you one last time.”
Nadal fans have made videos filming his ritual at various matches and posted them online.
A fan, sitting in the stands, filmed him during a match at the French Open, also known as Roland Garros.
He posted the clip on TikTok and wrote: ‘Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros… and the famous ritual before each point.’
The official Roland Garros TikTok page even acknowledged it and said: ‘The routine we all know.’
Nick Kyrgios, who lost to Nadal in an emotional match in July 2022, complained about him during a match at the Mexican Open in 2019 (both pictured)
Rafael Nadal has announced that he will retire from tennis, ending a historic tennis career.
The Spanish great has had to endure two difficult years in terms of injuries and consistency
Nick reacted to the news of his retirement and said he wanted to play with him “one last time.”
This racked up a lot of comments from fans who said they enjoy watching Nadal’s routine when he plays matches.
One wrote: ‘We all know it. “I’m a big fan of him, I’m French, so I saw him play in person at Roland Garos, it was crazy.”
Another wrote: “Sometimes she wears the headband too.”
A third said: “His way of playing tennis, the great Nadal.”
A fourth commented: “I love it because it’s Rafa.”
Today, Nada posted an emotional video on his social media account announcing the decision, reflecting on a career that was “longer and more successful than he could have ever imagined.”
In a video message, Nadal said: “Hello everyone, I am here to tell you that I am retiring from professional tennis.” The reality is that they have been difficult years, these last two especially. I don’t think I’ve been able to play without limitations.
“Obviously it is a difficult decision, which has taken me a long time to make. But in this life everything has a beginning and an end.
“And I think this is the right time to end a career that has been long and much more successful than I ever imagined.
‘But I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and I will represent my country. I have come full circle because one of my first great joys as a tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004.’
Nadal’s decision to join Roger Federer in retirement will leave Novak Djokovic as the last man standing in the triumvirate that has dominated tennis for two decades.