Rafael Nadal said he has left both a sporting and personal legacy after retiring from professional tennis on Tuesday at the Davis Cup. The 38-year-old was beaten in the opening singles rubber of the quarter-finals as Netherlands defeated Spain 2-1 to reach the final four. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, enjoyed a glittering and historic career over the past 23 years. "I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one," Nadal told fans in Malaga in a speech during a ceremony to honour his retirement. "I understand that the love I have received, if it was just for what happened on the court, would not be the same."