One of the greatest players to ever grace the court and a member of the Golden Age of tennis is putting away his racket. Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has let the world know about his upcoming plans to retire from the sport after a dazzling career in which he earned 22 grand slam titles.
Recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Nadal’s swan song and final tournament will be with Spain at the Davis Cup finals next month.
The 38-year-old last played at the Paris Olympics Games in August, however, mounting injury concerns, which have plagued him throughout his career, have severely stifled his time on the court over the past two years.
“Hello everyone, I’m here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis,” Nadal said in a video posted on social media. “The reality is that is has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.
“It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end.
“And I think it’s the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”
Nadal, who was forced to sit out the Laver Cup in September due to fitness concerns, announced last year that 2024 would probably be his last season on the tour.
His 22 grand slam titles are the second-most in history of men’s tennis only behind his great long-time rival and friend Novak Djokovic, as are his 36 Masters 1000 titles. Nadal has also captured singles and doubles gold for Spain at the Olympics and led his homeland to five Davis Cup titles.
Nicknamed the “King of Clay” which is well deserved, due to his outstanding showman-like performances and dominance on the surface, Nadal won 14 of his grand slams at the French Open and lost just four of his 116 matches in Paris. He also won the US Open four times and the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice, while his victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final is widely considered the greatest tennis match of all time.
Embed from Getty Images“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country,”
Nadal added. “I think I’ve come full circle since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004. I feel super, super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience.
“I want to thank the entire tennis industry. All the people involved in this sport, my long-time colleagues, especially my great rivals. I have spent many, many hours with them and I have lived many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.
“Talking about my team is a little bit more difficult for me because in the end, my team has been a very important part of my life. They are not co-workers, they are friends. They have been by my side at all the times I have really needed them. Very bad moments, very good moments.”
Nadal has dropped bread crumbs leaving the door open throughout the season that he could continue playing into next year if his body held up and allowed him to be competitive.
After missing the majority of 2023 because of a brutal hip injury, Nadal made his way back to competitive tennis at the Brisbane Open in January but the happiness was short lived as he was forced to miss the Australian Open with a thigh injury. He has played in only six tournaments since then, most recently the Olympics where he lost to Djokovic in the second round of the men’s singles.
“I leave with the absolute peace of mind of having given my best, of having made an effort in every way,” he said.
Federer, whose intense rivalry with Nadal is arguably the greatest in tennis history, said it was an “honor” to play against the Spaniard. The pair shared a tearful and emotional moment that went viral during Federer’s own retirement ceremony in 2022.
“What a career, Rafa!” Federer wrote on social media. “I always hoped this day would never come. Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love. It’s been an absolute honor!”
