Featured Image Credit: RTVE
Topics: Wimbledon, Rafael Nadal, Tennis
Ryan Sidle
Rafael Nadal's Wimbledon may have ended in the worst possible way, but the most Spaniard still left the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in the best possible way, as you can see in the video below.
Nadal was on course to try and win a third grand slam in-a-row, having already won the Australian Open and French Open this year.
The former world number one set up a semi final against Nick Kyrgios when he defeated Taylor Fritz in five sets on Wednesday evening, having looked in trouble at times in the match.
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Unfortunately though, the win over Fritz left him with an abdominal injury and he confirmed on Thursday that he wouldn't be able to face Kyrgios.
That meant the controversial Aussie, who has been charged with assaulting his former girlfriend, got a bye into his first slam final, where he'll meet Novak Djokovic.
There had been calls to allow Fritz to take Nadal's place in the semi, something he magnanimously disagreed with saying he 'didn't deserve' to go through.
But it wasn't just the American who took the classy exit from the competition, with Nadal taking time to say goodbye to pretty much every member of staff at the club, and taking pictures, before getting in his car and leaving SW19 behind for the next year.
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Times tennis correspondent Stuart Fraser revealed it was very typical of the 36-year-old to be so respectful of the staff working at the club.
"In case there are any sceptics, this isn't put on for the cameras," Fraser said on Twitter, "A regular sight behind the scenes on tour is Nadal thanking members of staff upon his departure from tournaments."
One fan said, "In a world where you can choose to be whoever you want, choose to be a Rafa. What a beautiful human being you are Rafael Nadal."
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Another simply added, "This is pure class from Nadal."
A third said, "As you can see again, that not every multi-millionaire is withdrawn and conceited. the most likeable player on the tour!"
One fan was also hopeful that he would recover from his injury in time to play at the last slam of the year, saying, "What a humble and great human even after the heartbreak. He’s playing some awesome tennis and hope he’s ready for US Open."
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Nadal completed an incredible comeback from injury earlier this year to become the first man to reach 21 grand slam titles, when he won the Australian Open.
His unprecedented 14th win at Roland Garros last month took him two ahead of rivals Djokovic and Roger Federer, who both missed at least one of the first two slams of the year, through vaccine issues and injury, respectively.
He may well be in the unusual position of cheering on Kyrgios on Sunday, as the British crowd may do, much to the chagrin of Djokovic.
It remains to be seen if his injury will dent his chances of going to Flushing Meadows in August but his dream of a calendar grand slam are already gone.