Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has announced his upcoming retirement from tennis after a glittering career that saw him win 22 Grand Slam titles.
Regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Nadal will play his final tournament in November, the Davis Cup final against Spain.
The 38-year-old last played at the Paris Olympics, but injury problems throughout his career have severely limited his time on the field over the last two seasons.
“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.”
Due to health issues, Rafael Nadal was forced to miss the Laver Cup last month. He had previously stated that 2024 would probably be his final season on the tour.
His 22 Grand Slam titles are the second most in men’s tennis history behind longtime great rival Novak Djokovic, as are his 36 Masters 1000 titles.
Nadal has also won Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles with Spain, and led his country to five Davis Cup victories.
Nicknamed the “King of Clay” for his unparalleled dominance on the ground, Nadal has won 14 of his Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros, losing only four of his 116 matches in Paris.
He has also won the US Open four times, the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice each, with his victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final widely considered to be the greatest match in tennis history.
“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 had suggested throughout the season that he could continue playing next year if his body allowed him to be competitive.
After missing most of the 2023 season with a hip injury, Nadal returned to competitive tennis at the Brisbane Open in January, but a hamstring injury forced him to miss the Australian Open.
Since then, he has played in just six tournaments, most recently at the Paris 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 rivalry with Nadal is arguably the greatest in tennis history, said it was an “honor” to have played against the Spaniard. The couple shared a tearful moment at Federer’s own retirement ceremony in 2022 that went viral online.
“What a career, Rafa!” Federer wrote on Instagram. “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!”