On October 10, Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal took to his social media to announce that he will retire from professional tennis at the end of this year, with the Davis Cup in December marking his final official competition. Numerous stars, including Roger Federer and Cristiano Ronaldo, extended their best wishes to Nadal following his announcement.
Reflecting on his career, Nadal shared, “These years have indeed been tough, especially the past two, as I’ve had to play under limitations.” He admitted that deciding to retire was a challenging choice that took him considerable time to make. “But in life, everything has a beginning and an end. I feel that now is the right time to conclude this long and more successful career than I ever imagined.”
In his retirement announcement, Nadal expressed his gratitude to fans around the world in multiple languages, including a heartfelt “Thank you all.”
At 38 years old, Nadal has claimed 22 Grand Slam titles, 36 Masters titles (ATP 1000), and has earned a gold medal in men’s singles at the Beijing Olympics, as well as in men’s doubles at the Rio Olympics. He is one of only five players in tennis history to achieve a “Career Golden Slam.”
Nadal’s impressive Grand Slam record includes 14 French Open titles, 2 Wimbledon titles, 2 Australian Open titles, and 4 US Open titles. Known as the “King of Clay,” he holds the unprecedented record of 14 titles at Roland Garros.
Playing on clay courts, which are generally slower and demand greater agility and endurance, has always suited the physically strong and agile Nadal.
Nadal burst onto the scene in 2005, winning his first title at the French Open. He went on to secure four consecutive championships there over the next three years, claiming the iconic Musketeers’ Cup each time.
In 2017, after overcoming injuries, the “Matador” lifted the French Open trophy for the tenth time. He defended his title again in 2018, and by the end of that season, he had played at Roland Garros 14 times with a staggering record of 86 wins to just 2 losses, an incredible 97.7% win rate.
In the 2020 French Open final, Nadal faced off against Novak Djokovic in their historic 56th meeting. The “King of Clay” won decisively in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2, 7-5, claiming his 13th title at the event and tying Federer’s then-record of 20 Grand Slam titles.
In 2022, despite suffering a left foot injury, Nadal fought through to win his 14th French Open title, becoming the oldest men’s singles champion in the tournament’s history.
In May of last year, Nadal announced his withdrawal from that season’s French Open, marking the first time he’d missed the event since 2005. He underwent surgery the day before his 37th birthday and, due to injuries, almost missed the entirety of the 2023 season.
This year at the Paris Olympics, Nadal faced Djokovic in the second round of men’s singles, ultimately falling to his longtime rival in a 0-2 defeat. Since the Olympics, he has not participated in any competitions.
