"There is an animal side to him": Justine Henin praises Rafael Nadal upon his retirement

Former World No. 1 Justine Henin declared that she had "never seen anything like" Rafael Nadal’s intensity during his emergence on the ATP Tour. The 38-year-old Spaniard played his final match on Tuesday, falling 4-6, 4-6 to Botic van de Zandschulp, marking the end of his career after Spain's elimination from the Davis Cup.

Uncertainty lingered until the last moment over whether Nadal would compete in singles or just doubles, but captain David Ferrer ultimately entrusted the 22-time Grand Slam champion to open the series solo. Though far from his best form, Nadal delivered a respectable performance in his swan song.

Nadal ends his career among tennis's all-time greats, with 22 Grand Slam titles, trailing only Novak Djokovic in the men’s record books. His tally includes an astounding 14 Roland Garros trophies, an all-time record for any player at a single Grand Slam tournament.

Belgian Justine Henin, a dominant force at the French Open in the early 2000s with four titles (three of which overlapped with Nadal’s reign), shared her insights on Eurosport. She reflected on witnessing Nadal claim his first Roland Garros title at just 19 years old in 2005.

"We had never seen anything like it," Henin told Eurosport's Arnold Montgault. "I've talked about Rafael Nadal's intensity. I'm almost going to say there is an animal side to him. This presence, this power, this nerve, this audacity—everything came together so naturally. It was unheard of at the time.

"He beat Roger Federer in the semi-finals and went on to win Roland-Garros, his first Grand Slam: it is significant. There are so many more moments of Rafael Nadal that are going to strike us," she stated.

"I already had historical memories of Roland-Garros at the time, but something extraordinary happened in men's tennis. That title was a defining moment, one that left an indelible mark," Henin added. "It was the start of something we couldn't have expected.”

Henin continued: "I've given a lot of thought to the words I could use to summarise what, at least for me personally, will remain of him. I think it’s intensity. He leaves behind the image of someone extremely intense and responsible."

"But it’s also about his ability to make no excuses on the court. Nadal won as a team, but he lost alone. He didn’t lose completely alone, of course—he had support—but he always took responsibility.

"And in the end, I think this sense of responsibility is important. He was always a decision-maker in what he did. He’s been through a lot. He had to overcome a lot. He had to develop his game. He constantly searched for solutions," Henin remarked, alluding to Nadal’s many injuries. "Roland-Garros is just one chapter in his story, but he has proven himself elsewhere through sheer hard work and self-sacrifice—something truly phenomenal."