TNT Sports
Rafael Nadal to retire from tennis at end of season, Davis Cup Finals farewell for Spain looms
By
Updated 11/10/2024 at 12:43 GMT+1
Rafael Nadal will bow out from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in November after announcing his retirement on Thursday. Nadal, who enjoyed legendary rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic throughout an illustrious career, has won 22 Grand Slam titles – including an astonishing 14 French Open crowns. The 38-year-old's last major triumph came at the 2022 French Open.
14 mordiscos de gloria: Todas las veces que viste a Nadal en Eurosport conquistando Roland-Garros
Video credit: TNT Sports
Rafael Nadal will retire from tennis at the end of the season, with his farewell set for November's Davis Cup Finals with Spain.
The Spaniard, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles across an incredible career, has battled significant injuries in recent seasons.
In a video message posted on social media, Nadal said: "Hello everyone, I'm here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis.
"The reality is that 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. 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."
Known widely as the 'King of Clay' after winning a record 14 times at the French Open - seven more than any other player, male or female, in the Open Era - Nadal has also landed four US Open titles and two apiece at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
He won the singles at the Bejing 2008 Olympics, then followed it up with gold in the doubles at Rio 2016.
Nadal formed part of the 'Big Three' along with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, with the trio taking men's tennis to new heights as all three smashed the 20-Slam barrier.
But injuries have caught up with the 38-year-old, who is without a title since winning the French Open in 2022.
He missed the Australian Open in January, and although he returned for the clay swing, it was not vintage Nadal as he bowed out in the French Open first round to Alexander Zverev - just the fourth time he had lost at the tournament in 19 appearances.
He returned to the Parisian red dirt for the Olympics, losing to Djokovic in the singles before teaming up with Carlos Alcaraz for an entertaining doubles run that ended in the quarter-finals.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/07/29/4012626-81390168-2560-1440.jpg)
‘Greatest rivalry we have ever seen’ – Watch moment Djokovic downs Nadal
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I feel super, super lucky for all the things I've been able to experience," Nadal continued.
"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, many hours with them and 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 just co-workers, they are friends. They have been by my side all the times I have really needed them.
"Very good moments, very bad moments, moments when I had to be pushed, moments they gave me more slack. We have lived so much together that is hard to explain."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2021/02/24/3001289-61581508-2560-1440.jpg)
Nadal Top 5: Best shots from Spaniard at Australian Open 2021
Video credit: TNT Sports
Nadal's Spain face the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Malaga on November 19.
- - -
Stream top tennis action live and on-demand on discovery+
Advertisement
Advertisement