Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion and widely regarded as one of the most exceptional players in the history of tennis, has announced his retirement from professional tennis.
Nadal’s forthcoming participation in the Davis Cup final 8 for Spain in November will mark his final appearance as a professional tennis player. His illustrious career includes 22 Grand Slam titles, with an unprecedented 14 victories at the French Open, solidifying his status as one of the most accomplished sportspersons of all time.
The champion, in an emotional video posted on X on Thursday, said, “I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially.”
“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,” Nadal said in the video in Spanish.
The 38-year-old mentioned that he has been dealing with numerous injuries over the past few years, leading to significant time away from the sport. This year, the left-handed player has only participated in seven tournaments, experiencing an early exit in the first round of the French Open – an event he has historically won 14 times.
His most recent performance was at the Paris Olympics, where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic in straight sets during the second round.
Nadal boasts an impressive total of 92 ATP singles titles, which includes 36 Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal. Notably, he is one of three men in tennis history to achieve the Career Golden Slam in singles. The announcement of his retirement came through an emotional video shared on social media.
In the lead-up to his retirement, Nadal withdrew from the 2024 Laver Cup, which was intended to be his final professional event on the court. Following the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nadal confirmed that the Laver Cup would be his next appearance for the year. This would have marked his fourth participation in the Laver Cup, after competing in Prague in 2017, Geneva in 2019, and partnering with long-time rival Roger Federer in doubles for the latter’s final match at The O2 in London in 2022.
The 22-time Grand Slam Champion had previously hinted that 2024 might be his last year on the tour. With a season match record of 12-7, his latest competitive outing was at the Paris Olympics, where he was eliminated in the second round by Novak Djokovic.