The Spaniard Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement as a professional tennis player. The 22-time Grand Slam tournament winner announced on his social media channels that he will finally end his career after this season. Nadal said he was very happy that the final round of the Davis Cup from November 19th to 24th in Malaga would be his last tournament. The 38-year-old wants to compete there again for his home country of Spain.
“The reality is that the last two years have been very difficult. “I don’t think I’ve been able to play without restrictions,” Nadal said. The injury-plagued clay court king, who set numerous tennis records with his 14 victories at the French Open, among other things, leaves as one of the greatest in his sport.
Nadal had already announced in May of the previous year that he wanted to end his glorious career in 2024. However, he added: “I can’t say 100 percent because you never know what will happen.”
Federer: “It was an absolute honor”
His former long-term rival Roger Federer, who retired in 2022, recently encouraged Nadal to take this step. He reacted emotionally to the announced retirement of his long-time tennis opponent Rafael Nadal. “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,” wrote the 43-year-old 20-time Grand Slam winner on Instagram about the Spaniard’s retirement video.
Nadal had previously not competed in the Grand Slam tournaments US Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open for fitness reasons. Nadal made his last appearance on the Grand Slam stage in May at the French Open, when he lost to German tennis star Alexander Zverev in three sets in the first round.
Among the 15,000 spectators were not only his son Rafael junior and his wife Xisca Perelló, but also the tennis stars Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek. Nadal said afterwards that he was “happy” about it, “because it means that I have left a positive legacy.”
Many titles – but also many injuries
In addition to his 14 victories at the French Open, Nadal also triumphed four times at the US Open and twice each at Wimbledon and at the Australian Open. He was number one in the world rankings for a total of 209 weeks and collected more than 134 million euros in prize money alone. Together with Federer and Djokovic, Nadal formed the “Big Three” that dominated men’s tennis for almost two decades.
But Nadal’s powerful and intensive playing style took its toll. During his career, the Mallorcan was repeatedly set back by injuries. He was particularly troubled by Müller-Weiss syndrome, a rare disease in which bone tissue in the scaphoid bone of the foot skeleton dies.
Always plagued by injuries: the Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal. Archive photo: dpa/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/Eric Renom
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At times he seemed to be exploiting his own body during his many comebacks. “My life and body have been sending me signals for a long time,” Nadal said in the spring. Nevertheless, he struggled back onto the court because he wanted to enjoy the game that he loves so much and that has given him so much one last time. And to say goodbye.
“He did everything for the sport,” said Federer: “It would be phenomenal if he could last another season, but only Rafa himself can answer that.” He has now done it.
