Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he will retire after the Davis Cup finals in November, concluding a legendary career marked by 22 Grand Slam titles, worldwide admiration, and unforgettable rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
“I am retiring from professional tennis. The last few years, especially these two, have been difficult,” Nadal said in a video shared on social media. “It’s obviously a tough decision, one I’ve taken time to make. But everything in life has a beginning and an end.”
The 38-year-old Spaniard will retire with 92 titles and over $135 million in prize money, securing his place as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Nadal, included in Spain’s Davis Cup team alongside Carlos Alcaraz, hopes to conclude his career with a fifth Davis Cup title in Malaga next month.
“I think now is the right time to end a career that’s been much longer and more successful than I could have ever imagined,” Nadal remarked. “I’m very excited that my last tournament will be representing my country at the Davis Cup.”
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Nadal’s dominance at the French Open, where he claimed 14 of his Grand Slam titles, began when he won his first in 2005, just days after turning 19.
His last victory at Roland Garros came in 2022, briefly making him the tournament’s oldest champion until Djokovic broke the record a year later. Nadal’s remarkable record at Roland Garros includes only four losses in 116 matches.
Beyond his clay-court mastery, Nadal also secured four US Open titles, two Australian Open titles, and two Wimbledon championships.
His epic five-set victory over Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final, played almost entirely in darkness, is widely regarded as the greatest Grand Slam final in tennis history.
In 2008, Nadal achieved a career Golden Slam by winning Olympic gold in Beijing. He was a five-time year-end world No. 1, spending 209 weeks at the top spot, and remained in the top 10 from 2005 until March 2023.
Throughout his career, Nadal developed intense rivalries with Federer and Djokovic. Against Federer, he held a 24-16 edge, surpassing Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles in 2022.
Against Djokovic, who holds a record 24 Grand Slam titles, Nadal faced off 60 times, with Djokovic holding a slight 30-29 advantage. Their final meeting at the Paris Olympics saw Djokovic overpower Nadal in straight sets.
Despite his achievements, Nadal’s career was plagued by injuries, the result of his aggressive playing style. He endured ankle, wrist, knee, and abdominal injuries, forcing him to miss 18 Grand Slam tournaments and withdraw mid-tournament five times.
His 2022 French Open triumph came only after enduring daily pain-killing injections in his foot, followed by a nerve procedure to prolong his career.
As injuries became more frequent, Nadal’s career began to wind down. A hip injury at the 2023 Australian Open resulted in his earliest Grand Slam exit in seven years, a moment that left his wife, Mery, in tears as she watched him struggle on court.
Nadal’s emotional farewell began to take shape during the 2022 Laver Cup in London, where he partnered with Federer in the Swiss star’s final tournament. As Federer retired at age 41 due to a knee injury, the two legends shared tears and held hands, marking the end of an era.
“When Roger leaves the tour, a part of my life leaves too,” Nadal said.
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