Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. That is a fact.
His 92 career titles, including Olympic gold in 2008, speak for themselves.
But what he did on the court is not the kind of legacy the Spaniard wants to leave following his retirement.
Instead, he hopes people look back on his career with admiration for the kind of person he is.
“I hope that my legacy is that I always tried to treat others with deep respect,” he wrote for The Players’ Tribune.
“Look around you and notice the people you admire… how they treat people, what you love about them – act like them and you will probably live a happy life.
“I carried that lesson with me into every match I ever played; I was not fueled by hatred of my rivals, but a deep respect and admiration.
“I simply tried to wake up every morning and get a little bit better, so I could keep up with them. It didn’t always work! But I tried… I always tried.”
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