Nadal bids emotional farewell to Caja Magica after fourth-round exit

MADRID — Rafael Nadal had to pause for a few moments, visibly emotional, while addressing the crowd after his loss in the fourth round at the Madrid Open.

As chants of "Rafa, Rafa, Rafa" echoed around the court, the five-time champion in Madrid made a farewell speech following a 7-5, 6-4 loss on Tuesday to world No 31 Jiri Lehecka.

It was likely his last official match at the tournament in the Spanish capital.

"This is a difficult day when it arrives, but it's a reality. My body and my life have been sending me signs for some time," Nadal said. "I was able to say goodbye playing on this court, one of the most emotional ones for me. Madrid, at times, has been more important to me than a Grand Slam. The memories here will stay with me forever."

After the match, tournament organizers unfurled five banners for each of Nadal's titles in Madrid- 2005, '10, '13, '14 and '17. They also showed a video of his highlights, as his wife and sister shed tears in the stands.

"It's been a gift what you've done for me during the 21 years that I've played here," said the 37-year-old Nadal, a winner of 22 Grand Slam singles titles. "All I can say is 'thank you.'"

Nadal had not lost to a player ranked outside the top 20 on clay since falling to Pablo Cuevas in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro. He was seeking his 60th win in Madrid and the 100th ATP 1000 quarterfinal of his career.

Earlier, the player that Spanish fans hope will take over Nadal's reign, Carlos Alcaraz, needed nearly three hours to beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4).

Both Spaniards are coming off injuries and are trying to get back in shape ahead of next month's French Open. The 20-year-old Alcaraz missed tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Nadal was coming off two matches in Barcelona after not playing competitively in nearly three months.

He arrived in Madrid saying he wasn't fully fit and was worried about his condition, but in the end he won three consecutive matches without showing significant physical limitations.

"Just two days before I left for Barcelona I really didn't know if I was going to be able to play again in an official match," Nadal said,"and, in the end, I've played two weeks."

Lehecka, through to the second Masters 1000 quarterfinal of his career, said it felt "bittersweet" to beat Nadal in his last appearance in Madrid.

"It's amazing for me. To share the court with such a legendary player is a dream come true," said Lehecka.

"All the best to Rafa, it's kind of bittersweet to have such a nice win in front of all these people, with everyone cheering for him."

Nadal is now planning to play in Rome when the tournament starts on May 8, while continuing his preparations for the French Open.

Nadal said Rome, where he won 10 titles, was also going to be emotional for him.

"I want to play well there (in Rome). I want to be competitive," he said. "I want to give myself a chance to play good tennis, and I'm going to keep working hard to try to make that happen."

Second-seeded Alcaraz was coming off two comfortable victories in Madrid, but struggled on Tuesday. He squandered four match points against the 24th-ranked Struff while serving at 5-3, but converted on his first opportunity in the deciding tiebreaker at the Caja Magica center court.

"I wasn't at my best physically toward the end of the match, but I'm happy that, in the end, I found my game," Alcaraz said. "I fought for every ball and didn't get down, despite some difficult moments when things didn't go my way."