BARCELONA—Tommy Robredo had just given all he could to get on the scoreboard in the second set of his match with countryman Bernabe Zapata Miralles on Monday. As he sat down for the changeover, growing chants of “Tommy! (clap, clap, clap)” filled Pista Rafa Nadal at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
Across the way, 13-month-old daughter Alexia stood out among the crowd’s energy, making herself heard in the arms of mom Patricia. Blowing kisses to her papa, Robredo returned the favor before standing up to continue fighting in the final match of his career.
A short time later, the 39-year-old kissed goodbye to the ATP tour when Zapata Miralles closed out a 6-1, 6-1 victory. Robredo appeared all but at peace with the closed chapter, soaking up the opportunity to say farewell at a venue that has always been home.
“I grew up here. When I was 14, I started to be a member of the team competition. It was my first tournament as a professional when I was 16,” Robredo told TENNIS.com in press afterwards. “This is where I have most of my friends, and my family lives one hour from here.
“I think there is no better way to end a career than doing it in your tennis club, with your friends, with your family and with all the people that [have] followed you.”