FUENGIROLA, Spain — Rafael Nadal felt a hand on his left shoulder as he walked out of a conference room at a resort on Spain’s southern coast following his first question-and-answer session with reporters since announcing the Davis Cup Final 8 will be his last event before retirement.

Rafael Nadal's tennis career includes 22 Grand Slam trophies, a record 14 French Open titles and plenty of other significant numbers.

Nadal is best known for his immense Roland Garros record, but the tournament at which he is calling it a career stands above even that.