Spain’s tennis legend Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion, announced on Thursday that he will retire from professional tennis at the conclusion of the season, effective after the Davis Cup final.
In a heartfelt video message, the 38-year-old reflected on his career and the challenges he faced in recent years. “It has been some difficult years, these last two especially,” Nadal said.
“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup representing my country. It’s closing the circle because one of my first joys was the final in Sevilla in 2004,” he added.
Known for his unparalleled dominance at the French Open, where he claimed a record 14 titles, Nadal’s retirement marks the end of an era in tennis, leaving fans and the sport to bid farewell to one of its greatest champions.
He won his last Roland Garros title in 2022 and left the Paris clay on a jaw-dropping 112-4 win-loss record.
Nadal’s career has been hampered by injuries in recent years and he missed the 2023 French Open and was beaten in the first round by German Alexander Zverev this year.
The Davis Cup knockout phase will be played from November 19-24.
Nadal, often referred to as the “King of Clay,” is celebrated as one of the most tenacious and versatile players in tennis history.
Nadal’s two-decade career saw him lift 92 titles and accumulate over $135 million in prize money. His Grand Slam winning-journey began with his maiden French Open victory just days after turning 19 in 2005.
Beyond his clay-court mastery, Nadal was also a versatile competitor, winning four US Open titles and two Australian Opens, with his first in 2009 and a second triumph 13 years later. On the grass of Wimbledon, a surface considered challenging for his game, he secured two championships in 2008 and 2010. His dramatic five-set victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 final, which concluded in near darkness, is widely celebrated as one of the greatest matches in tennis history.
Nadal also won the Olympic gold medal in 2008 and contributed to Spain’s success with five Davis Cup titles. A five-time year-end world number one, he remained in the ATP top 10 for an incredible 17 years, from 2005 until March 2024. During his peak years, he spent 209 weeks ranked as the world’s top player and won at least one title every year from 2004 to 2022.
