The Spanish tennis legend has decided to officially hang up his racket.
Announced today on social media, the 22-time grand slam champion has decided to retire at the end of the 2024 tennis season, calling time on an illustrious career and the acknowledgment of being one of the greatest tennis players of all time. It comes at a time when he has admitted that he hasn’t played “without limitations” these past two years.
“Hi everyone. I am here to inform everyone of my decision to retire from professional tennis. The truth is, it has been difficult in recent times, especially the last two years,” he said on his official Instagram account.
“I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that takes me some time to make.
“But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it’s an appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”
However, Nadal mentioned he is still set to compete in the Davis Cup with Spain later this year — already a five-time champion.
“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country. 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 Sevilla in 2004.”
Nadal’s 22 grand slam titles are the second-most ever, behind Novak Djokovic with 24. He also holds 2 Wimbledon titles, 14 French Open titles, 4 US Open titles, and 2 Australian Open titles.
“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, man1y 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.”
The 39-year-old’s last competition was at the 2024 Paris Olympics, although his injuries have made it difficult to keep up.
Roger Federer, one of his greatest rivals, took the time to comment underneath his post, saying “What a career, Rafa. 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 honour!”
The pair contested against each other in the 2008 Wimbledon final, which many fans consider the greatest tennis match of all time. Nadal won in a dramatic five sets: 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7. The match lasted nearly five hours, reinforcing his status as the “King of Clay”.
