Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday he will retire from professional tennis after the Davis Cup finals, ending a career in which the 38-year-old Spaniard won 22 Grand Slam titles and Olympic golds in singles and doubles.
Nadal will bring his storied career to a close on home soil in Malaga, where he will be part of a Spain team that competes in the Davis Cup Finals from 19-24 November.
“Hello everyone, I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis,” said Nadal in Spanish in a video posted on X. “The reality is it has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.
“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.”
“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country,” said Nadal. “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.
“I feel super, super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience.”
A 92-time tour-level champion who spent 209 weeks at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Nadal has been one of the leading lights on the ATP Tour since turning pro in 2001. He is a 22-time Grand Slam titlist, a tally which includes a record 14 crowns at Roland Garros, four US Open titles, and two apiece at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
Nadal went on to thank his ATP Tour rivals, his team, and his family (including his uncle and former coach Toni Nadal). Despite his body rarely allowing him to compete at full fitness across the past two seasons, the Spaniard’s trademark dedication to his sport never faltered. He attributed part of his desire to continue playing this long to the arrival of his son, Rafael, whom he shares with his wife Maria.
“To come home and see how my son is growing every day has been a force that has really kept me alive and with the necessary energy to continue,” said the Spaniard.
“Finally, you, the fans. I can’t thank you enough for what you have made me feel,” said Nadal at the end of the video. “You have given me the energy I have needed at every moment.
“Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true. I leave with the absolute peace of mind of having given my best, of having made an effort in every way. I can only end by saying a thousand thanks to all and see you soon.”
He last played at the Paris Olympics reaching the men’s doubles quarterfinals and losing in the second round of singles to his greatest rival Novak Djokovic, now acknowledged without doubt as tennis’ “greatest of all time”.
The Spaniard’s great friend and rival Roger Federer took to social media to pay tribute: “What a career, Rafa! Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love. It’s been an absolute honour.”
