After his final match in Madrid, Nadal thanks his fans: "I'll never get the chance to thank people enough for the way they made me feel"

It's the event of the week. After three victories (over Darwin Blanch, Alex De Minaur and Pedro Cachin), Rafael Nadal was unable to keep the Madrid fans dreaming. Faced with a Jiri Lehecka who had no complexes and played a full match (33 winners to 12 unforced errors), the king of clay was forced to bow out (7-5, 6-4 in 2h01). Defeated despite a fairly satisfactory level of play and, above all, a physique that seemed to hold up, Rafael Nadal reflected on his final match in a press conference.

Asked about the magnificent tribute he received on court, the Majorcan thanked his fans: "The Madrilenians have never let me down, and the way they've made me feel over the years is something that will always remain engraved in my memory."

Relieved to finish (in Madrid) on the court, the Spaniard will long remember the atmosphere created by his fans at each of his matches: "I enjoyed it: three weeks ago, I didn't know if I'd ever play an official match again, it's quite real... and I was able to say goodbye here, on the court, and at a perfectly decent level. For me, this city and Spain have always been synonymous with support and energy, which have helped me decisively. Today, I'm taking with me a wonderful energy, an unforgettable memory. I'll never have the chance to thank people enough for the way they've made me feel."