One of the legends of the tennis world, Rafael Nadal, has officially announced that he will retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2024 season. The Spanish star is set to make his final appearance on the court during the Davis Cup Finals, representing Spain for the last time.
An Emotional Farewell from Nadal
Nadal shared his decision to retire through an emotional video, addressing his fans. The 38-year-old player said, “I am retiring,” officially confirming his decision. Reflecting on the challenges of recent years, he stated, “The truth is that the last two years have been very difficult for me, and it became impossible to play without restrictions. It wasn’t easy to make this decision, but just like every phase of life, everything has a beginning and an end. I believe now is the right time to end this journey.”
The Davis Cup Finals, which will take place in November in Malaga, Spain, will be Nadal’s last professional tournament.
Grand Slam Triumphs and Roland Garros Dominance
Rafael Nadal has etched his name into tennis history with 22 Grand Slam titles out of 30 final appearances. Known for his unparalleled success at the French Open (Roland Garros), the Spanish champion won all 14 of the finals he reached in Paris. His first triumph came in 2005 at the age of 19 when he defeated Mariano Puerta in his first Roland Garros final. Over the years, Nadal triumphed over notable rivals such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Robin Söderling, David Ferrer, Stanislas Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem, and Casper Ruud, securing 14 French Open titles.
Nadal won 112 of the 115 matches he played at Roland Garros. His first loss came in the fourth round in 2009 against Sweden’s Robin Söderling, followed by a quarterfinal defeat to Novak Djokovic in 2015. His third and last loss at the tournament occurred in the 2021 semifinals, once again to Djokovic.
8 Grand Slams After Turning 30
Despite facing health challenges later in his career, Nadal’s determination remained strong. Suffering from Müller-Weiss syndrome, a foot condition, Nadal managed to compete at the 2022 Roland Garros thanks to nerve injections in his left foot.
The 36-year-old Spaniard started 2022 by winning both the Australian Open and the French Open, marking the first time in his career that he began a season with two Grand Slam victories. He went on to win a total of 8 major titles after the age of 30, further solidifying his status in the tennis world.