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Tennis
Der Größte tritt ab – Gänsehaut pur!
Rafael Nadal (38) und sein emotionaler Abschied in Paris. Eine Statue für ihn steht schon seit Jahren auf der Anlage „Roland Garros“. Bei den French Open wird er am Sonntagabend nun offiziell in die Tennis-Rente verabschiedet, gut ein halbes Jahr nach seinem Rücktritt.
Immer wieder muss er dabei seine Rede unterbrechen, weil ihn die Gefühle übermannen.
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Der Court Philippe Chatrier, wo der Spanier 14-mal den Sieg bei den French Open feierte, wird zunächst zum Jubel- statt zum Tränenmeer. Wenig später kullern die Tränen bei vielen und auch der Superstar, mit 22 Grand-Slam-Titeln dekoriert, muss weinen, wischt sich immer wieder die Augen trocken.
Im schwarzen Anzug steht er auf dem Platz, der sein Leben war, mitten in seinem „Wohnzimmer“, an ein Rednerpult gelehnt. „Der allerwichtigste Tennis-Court meiner Karriere“, sagt er. „Rafa, Rafa“-Rufe schallen schon vor seinem Auftritt durch die proppevolle Arena.
[–>15.000 Zuschauer sind in T-Shirts gekleidet: „Merci Rafa“, steht drauf. Auf der Tribüne formen Zuschauer in weißen Trikots den Schriftzug „Rafa“, eingerahmt von zwei Herzen. Gegenüber steht „14 RG“; gemeint sind die 14 Titel, die er bei Roland Garros, den French Open, errang.
„Ich hatte großartige Rivalen, allen voran Andy, Novak und vor allem Roger“, sagt er. Gemeint sind Andy Murray (38), Novak Djokovic (38) und Roger Federer (43). Beim letzten Namen brandet extra Beifall auf.
Rafael Nadals Ehefrau Xisca Perelló mit Sohn Rafael junior
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Nadal, der seiner Familie und Freunden in Englisch, Französisch und natürlich Spanisch dankt: „Roland Garros ist ein fundamentaler Teil der Tennis-Geschichte. Dieses Turnier ist einzigartig.“
Ehefrau Xisca Perelló (36) und Sohn Rafael junior (2) sitzen wie seine Eltern im Publikum. Bewegende Momente auch für sie. Der kleine Nadal klatscht immer wieder begeistert bei der Rede seines Vaters.
Rafael Nadal umarmt Novak Djokovic. Roger Federer (l.) und Andy Murray schauen zu
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Nadal und Paris, das ist eine besondere Beziehung. Er erinnert an die erwähnte Statue, die ihn darstellt. „Eine große Ehre! Ich fühle mich dadurch wie noch ein Franzose mehr hier“, sagt der 22-malige Grand-Slam-Sieger.
Immer wieder flimmern Szenen aus seiner Karriere über die Videowände. Und dann kamen die leibhaftig auf den Platz, die er gerade noch erwähnte: Murray, Djokovic und Federer. Intensive Umarmungen – und wieder Tränen.
Der Court Philippe Chatrier erinnerte an die 14 French-Open-Titel von Rafael Nadal
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Orkanartiger Beifall von den Rängen, Nadal bekommt den Abschied, den er verdient. „Wir waren große Rivalen, aber immer auf faire Art und Weise. Wir waren gute Kollegen, haben uns immer respektiert“, so Nadal.
Und weiter: „Ihr habt mich an jedem einzelnen Tag gefordert, um der zu werden, der ich bin. Dass ihr hier seid, ist ein Zeichen, dass wir gute Freunde sein können, auch wenn wir große Rivalen waren.“
Der Fußabdruck von Rafael Nadal, der von nun an auf dem Court Philippe Chatrier verewigt ist
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Aber damit nicht genug! Am Ende gibt es noch einen Pokal zum Abschied, wenn man so will seinen 15. bei den French Open. Verbunden damit, dass sein Fußabdruck auf dem Centre Court verewigt wird, den er mit einem Besen selbst freikehren durfte. Daneben wieder seine „14“, die Zahl seines Tennis-Lebens.
Erneut fließen die Tränen an diesem emotionalen Abend. Am Ende wurde aber dennoch gelacht, denn da bekommt Rafael senior Rafael junior von der Tribüne gereicht. Der Zweijährige winkt wie der Papa munter in die Runde, der schönste Abschied, den sich Rafael Nadal wünschen konnte.
Merci, Rafa!
This news was originally published on this post .
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