As Rafael Nadal retires from tennis, 5 Live Sport takes a look back at his career.

As Rafael Nadal retires from tennis, 5 Live Sport takes a look back at his career.

Carlos Alcaraz discusses the legacy Spain team-mate Rafael Nadal will leave after his retirement.

Rafael Nadal retires from professional tennis after a 23-year career like no other. On a night of gratitude and grief, Spain led the world in saying "Gracias Rafa".

However, the send-off provided to the 22-time Grand Slam-winning legend by the International Tennis Federation and their Davis Cup organising committee provided a fitting final memory. Nadal's great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were not present for his send-off due to logistical reasons, but they both contributed to a moving video played to a tearful crowd. Soccer great David Beckham also contributed to the video tribute, with Nadal making a moving speech before he revealed how he would like to be remembered. "A lot of people work hard. A lot of people try their best every single day. I have been very lucky," said a tearful Nadal as he addressed the crowd. The titles, the numbers are there, but the way I'd like to be remembered most is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca. "I was just a kid who followed his dreams and worked as hard as possible to get where I am today. I achieved my dreams and more than I ever thought." The scenes in Malaga came after Nadal lost his final singles match 6-4, 6-4 against Botic van de Zandschulp, with Carlos Alcaraz giving Spain hope with a 7-6(0), 6-3 win against Tallon Griekspoor It was a false dawn for Spain as their elimination was confirmed after Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof beat Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in the deciding doubles against "Of course it has been an emotional day, nerves before what can be my last singles match," said Nadal "Feeling the national anthem for the last time like a professional has been very special. And then of course a little bit of mixed feelings makes things a little bit more difficult. "But that's it. We went on court. We live that moment. I tried to do my best. I tried to, at the same time, stay as positive as possible in every single moment, to play with the right energy. It was not enough. Congrats to Botic. That's all. He was better than me." When asked whether he should have played in singles for the first time in a competitive environment since the Paris Olympic Games last summer, Nadal conceded he had his own doubts about taking to the court. "Of course, it hasn't been an easy decision for the captain, but at the end, I really believe that David put on the field the player who he feels that had the better chance to win," reflected Nadal. "Because I give him, since the beginning, the input that he doesn't need to feel any pressure to put me, honestly, and I was not sure to play. I even give him more chances to put Roberto on the field than me during the whole week. "Probably watching that today, the decision to put me on the court as second player didn't work." With a smile, Nadal reflected on his first and last matches in the Davis Cup ended in defeat as he added: "It's in some ways good maybe if that was my last match. I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one. So we close the circle." Nadal has hinted he may yet have a final farewell event to put the final full stop on his career, which may be where Djokovic, Federer, Andu Murray and a few more may be able to pay their tributes in person. Yet the tennis world has seen Nadal play his final competitive tennis match and for those of us privileged to have been on the journey with him over the last two decades, it was hard not to feel a sense of loss as he walked off court for the final time. The memories Nadal leaves behind will live forever and all that is left to say is – Vamos Rafa.

Rafael Nadal says he would like to be remembered as "a kid who followed their dreams" as the tennis great says a poignant farewell to the sport.

Rafael Nadal loses in what might prove to be the final match of his career as Davis Cup hosts Spain fall behind against the Netherlands.

Watch the best shots as Emma Raducanu maintained her record of not dropping a set in this year's Billie Jean King Cup, beating Slovakia's Viktoria Hruncakova 6-4 6-4 in Great Britain's opening semi-final match.

Great Britain move closer to a place in the Billie Jean King Cup final for the first time in 43 years after Emma Raducanu wins the opener against Slovakia.

Wimbledon champion Henry Patten expects 2025 to be even tougher after his rise up the doubles rankings has seen his rivals take note.

Roger Federer says Rafael Nadal "made the whole tennis world proud" during his "epic career" before the Spaniard's retirement.

The pair - fondly known as Fedal to fans - enjoyed an epic rivalry that transcended tennis as they took the sport onto a new level. Swiss great retired after the 2022 Laver Cup and Nadal was by his side as they played doubles together and now it is the Spaniard's turn to bow out as he has confirmed the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga will be his last top-level event. Federer, who hasn't confirmed if he will be in Spain for Nadal's farewell, took to social media to say goodbye to his friend. Here is his letter in full: Vamos, Rafa! As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I've got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional. Let's start with the obvious: you beat me - a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game - even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge. I'm not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear… All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique - it was so you. And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was - until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I'd been hearing about you - about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday - it wasn't just hype. We were both at the start of our journey and it's one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you've had. Including 14 French Opens - historic! You made Spain proud… you made the whole tennis world proud. I keep thinking about the memories we've shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies. I'm still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn't want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much - like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties. And then there was London - the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side - not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career. Rafa, I know you're focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it's done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next. Rafa that! Best always, your fan, Roger

The former world No. 1 assessed, though, that this year was "a big shift" as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz split the four Grand Slam titles between them. Djokovic's two victories against top 10 players in 2024 were against Carlos Alcaraz in the Paris Olympics gold medal match and Taylor Fritz in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals. The legendary Serb's four defeats to opponents ranked in the top 10 this year came against Jannik Sinner (twice), Casper Ruud and Alcaraz. The 37-year-old's superb Olympic triumph was his only title of the season, while he was also a runner-up at Wimbledon and in Shanghai. Sinner won the Australian Open and the US Open this year, while Alcaraz did the French Open-Wimbledon double. Djokovic won his 24th and most recent major at the 2023 US Open. Speaking on the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast, Courier assessed Djokovic's 2024 campaign and pointed to the meniscus injury he suffered at the French Open. "Well, let's factor in that he might have won Roland Garros this year, right? He's playing there, he's starting to find his form - he gets injured," the American said. "And then it was a miracle for him to even make it to the starting line at Wimbledon, let alone get to the final on basically one leg. And he clearly was not moving at the level he needed to to compete with Carlos in that final. "But then, lo and behold, a month later he's wearing a gold medal, and you could see the difference in his movement from there. "But after that, it didn't seem that he was as engaged when he came across for the US [Open], and frankly I was surprised he played Shanghai. "I thought he might just pull the pin on the rest of the season and hit the reboot button. But, went to Shanghai and made the finals there, another good effort." The four-time Grand Slam champion argued that Djokovic, who finishes the season as the world No 7, will remain a serious threat to the top players. "Novak, I think will continue to stay around and be a problem for the top guys," Courier added. "But it's going to be up to him how much he is going to engage with them, and it's certainly not going to be on a full level. "So, this year is, no question, a big shift. All four of the majors went to the youth."

Jasmine Paolini's Italy reach their second successive Billie Jean King Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Iga Swiatek's Poland.