Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement from Tennis, Ends Career with 22 Grand Slam Titles

Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement from Tennis: Rafael Nadal has announced he’s retiring from tennis with 22 grand slams under his belt. One of the all-time greats, he’ll play his last match with Spain at the Davis Cup finals in November.

He last played at the Olympics in Paris but his ongoing injuries (which have plagued him his whole career) have limited him to just a couple of months on court the last 2 years.

“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.

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“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.”

Nadal was forced to miss the Laver Cup last month due to fitness issues and announced last year that 2024 would be his last year on tour.

His 22 grand slams are second all time in men’s tennis behind only Novak Djokovic, his long time rival, and his 36 Masters 1000 titles.

He’s won singles and doubles gold for Spain at the Olympics and 5 Davis Cup titles.

Known as the “King of Clay” due to his incredible record on the surface, he’s won 14 of his 22 grand slams at the French Open and lost just 4 of his 116 matches in Paris.

He’s also won the US Open 4 times and the Australian Open and Wimbledon 2 times. His win over Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final is widely regarded as the greatest tennis match of all time.

“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."

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“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 said all season he could play into 2024 if his body allowed him to be competitive.

He missed most of 2023 with a hip injury, then returned to competition at the Brisbane Open in January but had to miss the Australian Open with a thigh injury.

He’s played just 6 tournaments since then, the last being the Paris Olympics where he lost to Djokovic in the 2nd round of 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 the greatest of all time, called it an “privilege” to play against him. They shared an emotional moment during Federer’s retirement ceremony last year.

“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!”

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