Carlos Bernardes and Rafael Nadal had their ups and downs, but respect was always present between them. Both retired at the end of the 2024 season, with Nadal’s last singles match ending in a loss to Botic van de Zandschulp during the Davis Cup quarterfinals. Despite Carlos Alcaraz winning one match for Spain, he and Marcel Granollers couldn’t secure victory in doubles against Wesley Koolhof and Botic van de Zandschulp, marking Spain’s exit from the tournament.
During his retirement ceremony, Nadal expressed his wish to be remembered as a kind person from Mallorca rather than just for his tennis achievements. His uncle Toni believes that both Nadal and Roger Federer earned more respect on court compared to Novak Djokovic due to their conduct. Interestingly, one of the rare times Nadal showed anger was during a 2015 Rio Open semifinal against Fabio Fognini when he realized his shorts were on backwards .
Memorable Moments:
Fans might think it’s funny how even top athletes can have such relatable moments! Back then, Nadal asked Bernardes if he could leave the court to fix it. Bernardes said no, insisting that if Nadal wanted to change, he’d have to do it right there with cameras watching. This upset Nadal so much that he told Bernardes he’d request not having him as an umpire again.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal | 38 | 215 | 7 - 5 |
The ATP listened to Nadal’s request; Bernardes didn’t umpire him for several years after that incident. However, they crossed paths again at Wimbledon in 2018 when Bernardes gave him a time violation before a match began. Though not thrilled by this decision either, Nadal didn’t make a big fuss about it afterward.
Reflecting on their interactions over time, Bernardes shared with AS how respectful Nadal always was towards him despite any disagreements: “Yes we had our arguments but treated each other well.” He also expressed sadness over seeing such an iconic career come to an end like this: “I wanted nothing more than just witnessing what these great players achieved.”
Bernardes admired how legends like Federer and Murray changed tennis forever alongside Djokovic who continues playing today—calling it an honor being part of this era filled with passion unmatched before now! What do you think about these legendary players?
