The final match of Rafael Nadal’s legendary career left nary a dry eye in the house — including the tennis star himself. Nadal, 38, was visibly emotional while the Spanish national anthem played before his Davis Cup match against the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp on Tuesday 19.

Rafael Nadal's retirement leaves a huge gap on the court, but at least a few things he stood for will forever remain.

He also spent his entire career battling his own body, with Nadal’s injuries both acute and chronic carving the trajectory of his career and to an extent the way he played tennis. King of clay. Warrior.