Former player and current analyst Andrea Petkovic recently told a story to demonstrate Rafael Nadal's fear of losing despite everything he achieved during his career.
Unfortunately, Nadal's farewell appearance at the Davis Cup Finals ended earlier than he'd hoped. The tennis legend's final professional singles match ended in a loss to Botic van de Zandschulp in Malaga.
Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers' defeat in the deciding doubles match to Wesley Koolhof and Botic van de Zandschulp meant the Netherlands eliminated Team Spain, and Nadal's career was over.
His retirement ceremony afterward included a video containing clips of some of the 22-time Grand Slam champion's greatest moments and tributes from figures like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
That reminded fans of how sensational Nadal's level used to be. The former ATP world No. 1's struggles against van de Zandschulp will not be part of his legacy, but the incredible tennis he produced in previous years will be.
Despite Nadal's numerous accomplishments, the Spaniard also hopes to be remembered as a good person from a small village in Mallorca who enjoyed a remarkable career playing tennis.
Nadal's dominance of the French Open at Roland Garros is undoubtedly his most impressive record. He won the title in Paris 14 times, the last of which came in 2022 with a triumph against Casper Ruud.
Speaking on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Petkovic recounted seeing Nadal before the first round in 2022 at the Roland Garros. He was getting ready to face a lucky loser, but the tennis legend's intensity before the match amazed Petkovic.
"I saw him in the 14th year of him winning Roland Garros. He had lost there once or twice right? Two matches in 100 years and he played a lucky loser in the first round like he was playing for his life."
"I ran into him. I was going out of the gym to warm up and he was warming up right in front of Philippe Chatrier, you know that little hallway, and he looked like he was being brought out to be beheaded by the King of Spain, Felipe or whatever his name is."
Petkovic thinks Nadal was terrified and anxious about losing and that winning gave him a sense of relief after his matches that turned into an addiction throughout his career.
"I swear to God, I was like this guy is panicked, he’s terrified that he will lose to the lucky loser and then he won 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. I think why the addiction would made him addicted is he’s anxious to lose and when he wins and that’s almost a bigger emotional reward than the triumph, it gave him relief. And that’s why I think he was more addicted than others."
The German analyst does not call Nadal the greatest athlete in sports history but thinks "the greatest athlete in the history of sports who was always anxious" best describes him.
"What I argued was that Rafa is the best athlete in the history of sports who was always anxious. Some tried to mince it into, ‘He’s the best athlete in the history of sports.’ That’s not what I said but he is the best athlete in the history of sports who was always anxious, he was always afraid."
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