Rafael Nadal announces his impending retirement from tennis

CNN
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Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has announced his impending retirement from the sport after an illustrious career in which he won 22 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal is widely considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time and his final tournament will be the Davis Cup final with Spain in November.

The 38-year-old last played at the Paris Olympics, but the ongoing injury problems that have hampered him throughout his career have severely limited his time on the pitch over the past two seasons.

“Hello everyone, I am here to inform you that I am retiring from professional tennis,” Nadal said in a video posted on social media. “The reality is that it has been a difficult few years, particularly the last two. I don't think I could play without restrictions.

“It's obviously a difficult decision that took me some time. But in this life everything has a beginning and an end.

“And I think it is the right time to end a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”

Nadal, who had to miss the Laver Cup last month due to fitness concerns, revealed last year that 2024 would likely be his final season on the tour.

His 22 Grand Slam titles are the second most in men's tennis history behind Novak Djokovic, his great long-term rival, as are his 36 Masters 1000 titles.

Nadal also won singles and doubles gold for Spain at the Olympics and led his country to five Davis Cup titles.

Due to his remarkable dominance on the ground, Nadal is referred to as the “King of the Clay Court.” He won 14 of his Grand Slams at the French Open and lost only four of his 116 matches in Paris.

He also won the US Open four times, as well as the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice, while his victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final is widely considered the greatest tennis match of all time.

“I am very happy that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and represent my country,” Nadal added. “I think I have 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.

“I would like to thank the entire tennis industry. All the people who play this sport, my long-time colleagues, especially my big rivals. I spent many, many hours with them and experienced many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.

“It's a little harder for me to talk about my team because at the end of the day, my team was a very important part of my life. They are not colleagues, they are friends. They were always by my side when I really needed them. Very bad moments, very good moments.”

Nadal had indicated throughout the season that he could continue playing until next year if his body allowed him to be competitive.

After missing most of 2023 due to a hip injury, Nadal returned to competitive tennis at the Brisbane Open in January, but was forced to miss the Australian Open due to a hamstring injury.

Since then he has only played in six tournaments, most recently the Paris Olympics, where he lost to Djokovic in the second round in the men's singles.

“I leave with absolute certainty that I gave my best and tried hard in every way,” he said.

Federer, whose rivalry with Nadal is arguably the greatest in tennis history, said it was an “honor” to play against the Spaniard. The couple shared a tearful moment that went viral during Federer's own farewell ceremony in 2022.

“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 was an absolute honor!”