Legendary tennis player Rafael Nadal has officially announced his retirement, marking the end of an iconic career that spanned decades and reshaped the sport.
On Thursday, Rafael Nadal announced that he will retire following the Davis Cup finals in November. This decision marks the end of a remarkable career highlighted by 22 Grand Slam titles, worldwide admiration, and legendary rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
“I’m stepping away from professional tennis. The truth is, the past few years have been challenging, particularly these last two,” Nadal shared in a social media video.
“Clearly, this is a tough decision that I’ve taken some time to reach. However, in life, every journey has both a start and an endpoint.”
At 38, the Spaniard is poised to conclude his two-decade-long professional career with an impressive tally of 92 titles and prize money totaling $135 million. His status as one of the greatest tennis players in history has long been established.
Rafael Nadal has been named alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the Spain team as he aims to conclude his career with a fifth Davis Cup victory in Malaga next month.
“I believe it’s the right moment to conclude a career that has been longer and far more successful than I ever anticipated,” said Nadal.
However, I’m thrilled that my final tournament will be the Davis Cup Final while representing my country.
“I feel like I’ve come full circle,” Nadal remarked, reflecting on his first Davis Cup victory as a teenager in 2004.
Nadal was a powerhouse at the French Open, securing 14 of his major titles there. His first victory came just days after he turned 19 in 2005, and his last win occurred in 2022, momentarily making him the tournament’s oldest champion until Djokovic broke that record a year later.
On the renowned clay courts of Roland Garros, he suffered only four defeats in 116 matches.
He was a four-time US Open champion and won the Australian Open twice, with his first victory in 2009 and his second occurring 13 years later.
Nadal claimed victory at Wimbledon in both 2008 and 2010, despite grass being the surface most likely to highlight any weaknesses in his game.
His five-set triumph against Roger Federer in the 2008 championship match at the All England Club, concluding in near-total darkness, is often considered the greatest Grand Slam final ever played.
Nadal achieved a career Golden Slam by winning the Olympic gold medal in 2008.
He achieved the year-end world number one ranking five times and consistently remained in the top 10 from 2005 until March of last year.
He held the top spot for a total of 209 weeks and won at least one title each year from 2004 to 2022.
In his lengthy rivalry with close friend Federer, who retired two years prior, he held a 24-16 advantage. Nadal exceeded Federer’s record of 20 major titles in Australia in 2022.
He and Djokovic, who holds the record with 24 men’s Grand Slam titles, faced each other 60 times, with the Serb leading by just two wins.
A lackluster Nadal was defeated by Djokovic in straight sets during their final encounter at this year’s Paris Olympics.
Nadal hasn’t played since he lost alongside Alcaraz in the doubles quarter-finals a few days later.
Although Nadal had a record-breaking career, he often struggled with injuries—a painful consequence of his dynamic, intensely powerful playing style.
Beset by injuries
Due to issues with his ankle, wrist, knee, elbow, and abdomen, he missed 18 Grand Slam tournaments and had to withdraw mid-event five times at major events.
During the 2022 French Open, he acknowledged that his pursuit of the title would not have been feasible without receiving daily pain-relieving injections in his foot.
Nadal then underwent a medical procedure that involved burning nerves in his foot to help extend his career.
However, the creaks in my body were becoming more pronounced.
An abdominal strain compelled him to withdraw from Wimbledon, even though he had reached the semi-final stage.
He was subsequently sidelined by a hip injury at the Australian Open in January, leading to his earliest major tournament exit in seven years as he bowed out in the second round.
His wife, Mery, was in tears as she witnessed his struggle to the very end.
Nadal may have perceived the inevitable during the 2022 Laver Cup in London when he teamed up with Federer for the Swiss legend’s last tournament.
At 41 years old and struggling with a persistent knee injury, Federer decided to retire.
The two men cried and even held each other’s hands as the Federer era came to a close.
“When Roger departs from the tour, a significant part of my life will leave as well,” said Nadal.
