Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, has announced that he will retire from professional tennis at the end of this season. The 38-year-old will make his final appearance representing Spain at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.
Nadal, who has played sparingly over the past two seasons due to persistent injuries, hinted last year that 2024 could be his final year on the tour. In a video message released on Thursday, he confirmed his decision to step away from the sport.
“I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis,” Nadal said. “The reality is that it has been some difficult years, especially the last two. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.”
Nadal’s retirement marks the end of a legendary career, as he leaves the sport as the second-most successful men’s singles player in history, behind his longtime rival Novak Djokovic. Known as the ‘King of Clay,’ Nadal captured a record 14 French Open singles titles, winning an astounding 112 out of 116 matches at Roland Garros.
In addition to his dominance at the French Open, Nadal is a four-time US Open champion and won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice. His career also boasts Olympic singles and doubles gold medals, as well as five Davis Cup titles with Spain, the most recent coming in 2019.
Nadal, alongside fellow tennis icons Djokovic and 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer, formed the ‘Big Three’ that dominated men’s tennis from the early 2000s, captivating fans and shaping an era of the sport that will be remembered for generations.
