'I was getting goosebumps,' Andy Roddick explains what was it like to witness Madrid Open’s farewell to Rafael Nadal

Andy Roddick has hailed the Spanish crowd for their outstanding ovation for tennis icon Rafael Nadal after he played his final match at the Madrid Open. The emotional farewell ended with Nadal being given silverware as the record winner of the top-tier clay tournament.

The Spanish crowd backed Nadal throughout his time at the Madrid as they hoped more for him. However, their hopes were short-lived as Nadal lost to Czech Jiri Lehecka in the Round of 16 of the tournament. Nadal had won three matches, beating Alex de Minaur and Pedro Cachin en route to the round of 16.

After losing to Jiri Lehecka, Nadal was given an outstanding ovation, as some of the people in the Caja Majica stands were in tears as he bid his farewell. The 37-year-old had already announced that this season will be his final tour of his career and has made him the center of every competition he participates in.

Former US Open champion Roddick lauded the Spanish crowd in his podcast, ‘Served with Andy Roddick’. He felt that they gave Nadal what he deserved.

As far as the fans like, I was getting goosebumps. He (Nadal) walks out and he's doing his thing with his bottle and his bag you know, all of his particulars, and the crowd is just ready Rafa, Rafa, Rafa. I'm 1000% confident he felt appreciated this week. It was well deserved and it was a celebration of what he's done. The ceremony afterwards was great that's expected. The reaction was perfect, I think the preparation for Rafa versus what his body can handle was a 10/10. Andy Roddick said