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Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement From Tennis
Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, has announced he will retire from professional tennis at the end of the season after next month’s Davis Cup Finals.
Nadal has secured 22 Grand Slam titles, ranking him second on the men’s all-time list, just behind Novak Djokovic, who has 24. Remarkably, 14 of Nadal’s titles were won at Roland Garros, a tournament where he has shown unparalleled dominance, boasting an extraordinary 112-4 record at the French Open.
Nadal has won all four major titles multiple times and spent 209 weeks at No 1.
“It is a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make,” Nadal said in a video announcing his retirement posted on multiple social media platforms.
“But, in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. I think it is the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”
Two decades ago, Nadal burst onto the ATP Tour, swiftly challenging Roger Federer’s reign and establishing himself as one of the sport’s greatest teenage talents. Their rivalry, characterized by their contrasting playing styles and approaches, reignited global interest in tennis and is often credited with ushering in what many regard as the golden era of men’s tennis.
They were joined at the top by Djokovic, who, together with Nadal, would push the game’s physicality to new limits with their many attritional battles. Their rivalry is now the most prolific men’s match-up in the Open era; the pair have faced each other 60 times, with Djokovic leading 31-29.
As Nadal solidified his dominance on clay while consistently enhancing his skills on other surfaces, his playing style significantly transformed the game. His fierce, heavy topspin is unlike anything seen in tennis before.
Clay court King Rafael Nadal
Alongside his paradigm-shifting forehand, supreme athleticism, and intelligence, Nadal established himself as a player determined to constantly improve.
He built a complete game, allowing him to topple Federer and finally win Wimbledon in 2008 after one of the greatest matches of all time.
“I feel super lucky for all the things I have been able to experience,” Nadal added.
“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 hours with them and have lived many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Nadal: Career of Injury and Health issues
As well as his success, Nadal’s career was also defined by injury. His physical playing style and health issues, most notably Müller-Weiss Syndrome, the degenerative disease in his foot, have led to him being sidelined for significant periods.
Those physical struggles make sustained success at Roland Garros more remarkable.
Despite facing physical challenges, Nadal has experienced remarkable longevity in his career. His last two Grand Slam titles were won at the Australian Open and the French Open in 2022, marking a spectacular comeback season.
However, injuries have recently begun to take their toll on him.
Since the COVID hiatus in 2020, when Nadal’s chronic foot injury reemerged, he has faced ongoing challenges with his fitness. This struggle intensified after he was forced to withdraw due to an abdominal injury just before the 2022 Wimbledon semi-final.
Ultimately, his physical issues led to hip surgery last year.
As he prepared for that operation, Nadal warned that 2024 was likely to be his final year as a player.
When he returned to competition during the clay-court season in April, though, Nadal had seemed hopeful of extending his career. He enjoyed playing again, working each day with his team to fulfill their goals, battling in matches, and traveling with his family.
In the end, Nadal’s body and some brutal tournament draw played a significant role in his decision, and he referred to not being “able to play without limitations” during the past two years as a major factor.
He had been optimistic about his performance at the French Open and the Olympics, both taking place at Roland Garros.
However, at the French Open, his hopes of gradually improving his game were dashed when he faced the eventual finalist, Alexander Zverev, in the first round.
He then suffered a thigh injury days before the Olympics, where he lost in the second round to the eventual gold medallist, and his old rival, Djokovic.
Nadal has not competed since his doubles campaign with Carlos Alcaraz concluded in Paris in 2024, leaving him with just one official event remaining in his career. Following a lucrative exhibition in Saudi Arabia featuring other top players, Nadal will cap off his career in front of his home crowd at the Davis Cup finals, which begin on November 19 in Málaga.
“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country,” he said. “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 leave with the absolute peace of mind of having given my best, of having made an effort in every way; I can only end by saying a thousand thanks, and see you soon.”
