Rafael Nadal’s heartfelt gesture at Shanghai Masters 2017 revisited by tennis insider after Spaniard's retirement news

Tennis insider Courtney Walsh recalled a touching story, highlighting Rafael Nadal's kindness off the court, in the wake of the Spaniard’s recent announcement of his retirement from professional tennis. Currently the Senior reporter at Fox Sports, Walsh, who previously worked for ‘The Australian’, shared an old article highlighting Nadal's respect and care for his fans.

In his recollection, Walsh revisited an incident from the 2017 Shanghai Masters that exemplified the Spaniard’s kindness. After finishing a practice session under the sweltering Shanghai heat, Nadal returned to his hotel, greeted by a throng of passionate fans clamoring for his attention.

Given the intense atmosphere, the tennis star could have easily bypassed the crowd and retreated to his room. But the former World No. 1 took the time to engage with his admirers.

According to Walsh, the Spaniard slowly made his way through the lobby, accommodating autograph and photo requests for more than five minutes. When later asked about his interaction with the crowd, Nadal humbly remarked:

"Well, they are very passionate, no? Is great that we have good fans all around the world."

But the moment didn’t end there. After finally reaching the elevator, the Spaniard noticed a group of journalists waiting nearby, including Walsh himself. Instead of leaving them behind, the 22-time Grand Slam champion invited the reporters into the elevator with him, saying,

"They were here first."

Walsh shared this heartwarming memory on his X (formerly Twitter) account on October 10, 2024, shortly after the Spaniard announced his retirement. In his post, Walsh wrote:

"Aside from being blown away by @RafaelNadal on the court, having the good fortune to witness the respect with which he treated people was something to treasure. After the below [the article], he jumped into a lift but, on seeing journos waiting, invited them in as well. 'They were here first'"

Rafael Nadal’s retirement comes after a year-long injury hiatus and a brief comeback earlier this year.

The 38-year-old's last appearance was at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the singles second round and, alongside Carlos Alcaraz, lost in the doubles quarterfinals to Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.

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"I'll remember how Rafael Nadal made me feel"- Mark Petchey revisits Spaniard's kind gesture

Rafael Nadal at the 2024 Paris Olympics (Image source: Getty)

Former British tennis pro Mark Petchey shared a touching story about Rafael Nadal following the Spaniard’s retirement announcement. Petchey emphasized the 38-year-old’s down-to-earth nature by recounting a memorable moment from the French Open.

"So as the list of accomplishments get trotted out for Rafa, I won’t remember those. What I will remember is this. It was 2007/8 I can’t quite remember but he was already a huge star. I was working at Roland Garros as a commentator having worked with Andy (Murray) and been around Rafa on the practice courts and he knew me a little from my previous commentary work. I was and still am, a very marginal figure in the world of tennis. Even more so then," he shared on X.

According to Petchey, the Spaniard spotted him from a distance and, despite the occasion, walked over to greet him just as he was about to receive a birthday cake.

"I was working on the computers in the media area and it was his birthday. There was a group of about 6 people around him as he was about to be presented his cake somewhere in the building. He happened to look across at the same time I looked to see who was coming. He saw me, broke out of the group, walked over to me about 20 yards to say Hello and ask how I was doing, making the others wait while we chatted," he wrote.

"Not saying anything that others don’t know but there are very few elite famous people, let alone athletes who would have done that. I will remember his tennis but I will forever, remember how he made me feel. It’s a great life lesson for everyone. He never changed," Petchey added.

Rafael Nadal is set to retire following the Davis Cup Finals next month in Malaga. The former World No. 1 will be competing as part of Spain’s team in the knockout stages, alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut, Marcel Granollers, and Pablo Carreno Busta, with David Ferrer serving as team captain.