Rafael Nadal, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in history, has announced his retirement from the sport. In a heartfelt video message, the 22-time Grand Slam champion said goodbye to the game where he became one of the most beloved figures in sports. His final appearance as a professional will be at the Davis Cup final 8 for Spain in November.
“I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially,” Nadal said in the video. “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.”
Mil gracias a todos
Many thanks to all
Merci beaucoup à tous
Grazie mille à tutti
谢谢大家
شكرا لكم جميعا
תודה לכולכם
Obrigado a todos
Vielen Dank euch allen
Tack alla
Хвала свима
Gràcies a tots pic.twitter.com/7yPRs7QrOi— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) October 10, 2024
Nadal’s illustrious career includes a record 14 French Open titles, making him one of the most accomplished athletes of all time. He claimed his most recent Roland Garros title in 2022, leaving the Paris clay with an astounding win-loss record of 112-4. The Spaniard boasts an impressive 92 ATP singles titles, including 36 Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal. He also holds the distinction of being one of only three men in tennis history to achieve the Career Golden Slam in singles.
Last month, Nadal withdrew from the Laver Cup 2024, which had been planned as his final event as a professional player. After competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nadal had initially announced that the Laver Cup would be his next appearance for the year. The 22-time Grand Slam champion had previously suggested that 2024 could be his final year on the professional tour.
Nadal finished the season with a 12-7 match record, with his last appearance at the Paris Olympics, where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the second round.
The ‘King of Clay’ withdrew from the US Open last month, resulting in his absence from three of the four Grand Slam tournaments in 2024. His most recent appearance was at the Olympics, where he reached the men’s doubles quarterfinals and was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the second round of the singles event.
Beyond his impressive records and accolades, Nadal is renowned for the respect he demonstrated towards his opponents, the humility he exhibited in every victory, and the grace he showed in defeat. Fans across the globe admired him not just as a player but as a person and an athlete who poured his heart and soul into the game he loved.
Here’s the complete list of Majors won by Nadal:
Australian Open (2009, 2022)
French Open (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022)
Wimbledon (2008, 2010)
US Open (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019)
Read More: Carlos Alcaraz Surpasses ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal After Epic French Open Win
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
