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".

In the years that followed, Nadal worked to improve his all-court game and his serve, and his results away from clay improved. He missed the Australian Open in 2006 but won his second Roland Garros title before reaching that year’s Wimbledon final and U.S. Open quarters. Roger Federer schooled him on Centre Court, winning the first set 6-0.

Nadal's career came to a heartbreaking end after Spain's decision to play him in the singles brutally backfired. The retiring legend went down 6-4 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp in the opening singles rubber, before the Netherlands completed a 2-1 victory in the deciding doubles match.