“Rafael Nadal bids emotional farewell at Madrid Open after loss to Jiri Lehecka”

Rafael Nadal’s emotional farewell at the Madrid Open marked the end of an era for the Spanish tennis legend. Despite a passionate home crowd rooting for him, Nadal fell to Czech youngster Jiri Lehecka in the last 16 of the Masters 1000 tournament.

In a straight-sets defeat under the roof on Caja Magica, Nadal bid adieu to the Madrid Open, a tournament where he had previously clinched five titles. The 30th seed Lehecka emerged victorious with a 7-5, 6-4 win over the five-time champion, ending Nadal’s dream of a fairy-tale run in what could potentially be his final appearance at the event.

Following the match, Nadal expressed his gratitude to the fans and reflected on his illustrious career, stating, “The dream was to finish here on court. I have been fortunate in my life to turn my passion into my job, I am privileged.”

Meanwhile, Lehecka, who has now won all his three matches in straight sets, described sharing the court with Nadal as a dream come true. Despite the bittersweet victory in front of Nadal’s supporters, Lehecka acknowledged the energy and atmosphere created by the crowd.

In other matches, Carlos Alcaraz fought hard to overcome Jan-Lennard Struff, while Iga Swiatek staged a remarkable comeback against Beatriz Haddad Maia to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Madison Keys also booked her place in the semi-finals after defeating Ons Jabeur.

As the Madrid Open unfolds, tennis fans can catch all the action exclusively live on Sky Sports Tennis. With the clay-court season in full swing, the tournament serves as a thrilling precursor to the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros. Stay tuned to Sky Sports for more exciting tennis coverage and updates on your favorite players.