Rafael Nadal has announced that he will be retiring from professional tennis, with next month’s Davis Cup Finals marking his final competitive event.
The 38-year-old Spaniard, who held the No. 1 position in the PIF ATP Rankings for a total of 209 weeks, is set to participate in his final professional event at the Davis Cup Finals, scheduled to take place in Malaga from November 19 to 24.
“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.
The accolades and congratulatory messages were prompt, with participation from a wide array of individuals in the sport, including esteemed rivals such as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, as well as emerging talents like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek.
“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.”
The Spanish icon held the World No. 1 position in the PIF ATP Rankings for a total of 209 weeks, ranking sixth-most since the establishment of the rankings in 1973. Nadal has also achieved ATP Year-End No. 1 honors presented by PIF on five occasions.
Rafael Nadal is set to conclude his career with 92 ATP titles, a remarkable achievement that places him fifth on the all-time list, following Jimmy Connors (109), Roger Federer (103), Novak Djokovic (98), and Ivan Lendl (94). His exceptional left-handed kick serve has proven to be particularly advantageous on clay courts, where he has established records that may remain unmatched.
He has not only secured the most French Open titles but has also achieved more than twice the number of titles won by any other player in the Open era. Bjorn Borg, a prominent figure during the rise of tennis in the late 1970s, won six titles at Roland Garros, while Chris Evert claimed seven titles on the women’s side. Looking further back to the early 1900s, before the formal establishment of a tennis tour, Max Decugis won eight titles. In contrast, Nadal has remarkably won 14 titles at this prestigious event.
Nadal was the first men’s player in history to complete the career Grand Slam twice and won 22 major championships overall, only trailing Novak Djokovic (24). The Spaniard earned two Australian Open crowns, 14 Roland-Garros trophies, two Wimbledon titles and four US Open victories.
“Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true,” Nadal said. “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.”
Nadal achieved remarkable success in his athletic career, winning two Olympic gold medals. He secured a gold medal in singles competition at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and a doubles gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, partnering with Marc Lopez.
The Spanish athlete reached the pinnacle of the sport for the first time at the age of 22, attaining the World No. 1 ranking on August 18, 2008. He maintained the top position for an impressive 56 consecutive weeks, from June 7, 2010, to July 3, 2011, and he was most recently ranked World No. 1 in February 2020.
Photo/RafaelNadal/X
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