Breathe
By Rosa Covarrubias
Everyone, absolutely everyone, since childhood, has a passion for something: music, sports, art, literature, etc. Sports are a milestone in terms of being a born generator of idols, those we see as super heroes, those who seem to have a hidden power, beyond work and effort, which catapults them to fame and, in many cases, to have a large sum of money in the bank, perhaps that is why we long to be like them.But what happens when your favorite athlete, the one you accompanied to each of his competitions, decides to put an end to his career? those who have lived it will not let me lie: it feels a strange emptiness, sometimes I think 'it's silly', but when a new season starts and you do not see him, it's really a little weird. Let's go back in time, to 2002, when a young Spaniard, a fervent soccer lover, began his journey through the ATP Tour circuits. He was only 15 years old when he was invited to the Mallorca Open, few, very few, envisioned the successful future of Rafael Nadal. It is a complex week and, although his presence in major tournaments was no longer frequent due to injuries and the fact that age in sport does not forgive, Rafael Nadal played his last match in the Davis Cup.
Botic Van de Zandschulp will be remembered for ending Nadal's career with a defeat, a bitter farewell but one that in no way eclipses what the Spaniard from Manacor, Mallorca, has done; in Paris, a statue of the Spaniard makes clear his legacy at Roland Garros, where he won 14 of the 22 Grand Slam titles he holds.
Injuries were a constant for Rafa, who never gave up and fulfilled, to the fullest, the dream of being one of the best tennis players in history, embracing his passion for his profession; fortunate those of us who witnessed the clashes against Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, the so-called "Big three".
Complexity comes hand in hand with habit, yes, tennis lovers were barely assimilating Federer's retirement when the inevitable arrived. There is no doubt that tennis tournaments without Nadal, especially in what is called his home Roland Garros, will not be the same, even if behind him comes Alcaraz, Sinner, Medvedev or even someone better, there will always be a small comparison.
That is why they become idols or legends, those people who become immortal for their feats within the sport, those who will be remembered and whom hundreds of children will try to imitate generation after generation, their legacy usually goes beyond the courts and the mark they leave is indelible.
Tennis said goodbye to another great, the second most Grand Slam title-winning man in history, two-time Olympic gold medalist, 2008 in singles and 2016 in doubles, 5-time Davis Cup winner with Spain and holder of 92 ATP titles.
The post-retirement hangover will be terrible, what will happen now, now we will have to enjoy the last member of the "Big Three", now we will only have Nole left.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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