Rafael Nadal knocked out of Madrid Open by Jiri Lehecka

Jiri Lehecka caused disappointment for the home crowd on Tuesday by defeating Rafael Nadal at the Madrid Open, ending the Spaniard's run at the Masters 1000 tournament.

The 30th-seeded Lehecka won 7-5, 6-4, setting up a quarter-final clash with Daniil Medvedev and preventing Nadal from making history by reaching 100 Masters 1000 quarter-finals.

This loss was Nadal's first on clay to a player ranked outside the top 20 since 2016, signaling the conclusion of his illustrious career in Madrid, where he holds the record for most wins (59) and titles (five) in tournament history.

Nadal expressed his emotions, saying, "I'm happy. It was a very special week for me, very positive and very emotional. I had the opportunity to play one more time here on this court.

" Although Nadal has not yet announced the exact timing of his retirement this season, the 22-time Grand Slam champion's exit from the sport is imminent.

He has faced numerous physical challenges in the past two years, and he will decide whether he will participate in the Roland Garros tournament later this month.

Lehecka and Nadal had a close competition for the first 10 games on Tuesday, but the 22-year-old Czech took the lead by breaking at love and holding at love to win the opening set in less than an hour.

Nadal lost his serve at the beginning of the second set and was unable to recover, bidding farewell to the tournament as its greatest champion.

After the match, a special ceremony was held at the Manolo Santana Stadium, where banners with the words "Gracias Rafa" and the years he won the Madrid tournament were displayed above the stands. In an emotional moment, Nadal joked,

"This was a joke, because I'll be back next year," while his family watched from the stands. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who has supported him throughout his career and emphasized that his journey is not yet over.

Nadal acknowledged the incredible experience and the overwhelming support he has received from the Spanish public, stating that he feels fortunate to have pursued his passion since childhood.

He expressed his gratitude for the life he has lived and concluded by saying that he couldn't ask for anything more.