Video: Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement; Tennis Icon Won 22 Grand Slam Titles
Adam WellsOctober 10, 2024
Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Having previously teased retirement without wanting to use that specific term, Rafael Nadal has confirmed his legendary tennis career will come to an end after playing in the Davis Cup next month.
Nadal announced his decision in a video posted on social media.
Rafa Nadal @RafaelNadalMil 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
Nadal missed most of the 2023 season due to a hip injury before returning to action in December. He hinted at that time that the 2024 campaign could be his last but made a point of not saying anything definitive.
“The problem about saying it’s going to be my last season is that I can’t predict what’s going on 100 percent in the future,” Nadal said. “That’s the thing. That’s why I say probably.”
A muscle injury kept Nadal from playing in the Australian Open. He returned in April and played in the French Open, losing in the first round to Alexander Zverev. That defeat also brought up questions about his future, and he declined to offer specific answers:
“I went through all this process with the dream to be back here in Roland Garros. For me it is difficult to say what is going on in the future. It is a big percentage that I will not be back playing here, but I cannot say 100 percent. I enjoy playing here. The body is feeling a little better than two months ago, so…maybe in two months I say ‘it’s enough,’ but this is something I don’t feel yet.”
Nadal skipped the grass-court season, including Wimbledon, and elected not to play in the U.S. Open. He did represent Spain at the Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals in doubles with partner Carlos Alcaraz.
Now at 38 years old, Nadal has been playing tennis professionally since 2001. He won his first ATP title in 2003, followed by winning the Davis Cup with Spain in 2004.
Nadal won the first of his 22 Grand Slam singles titles in 2005 at the French Open. His mastery on clay courts allowed him to win a record 14 singles titles at Roland Garros over the course of his career.
The Tennis Letter @TheTennisLetterRafa Nadal will end his career with an almost unbelievable record at Roland Garros.
112 wins, 4 losses.
14 titles.
His dominance at this tournament transcended tennis itself.
It is arguably the most dominant any athlete has ever been at any given arena in any sport.
An… pic.twitter.com/hqED6dMLQK
The Tennis Letter @TheTennisLetterRoger Federer to Rafa Nadal after announcing his retirement from tennis.
Always supporting each other til the very end. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/qQNkCler2k
Rafa won all four Grand Slam tournaments at least twice in his career, making him one of only four men’s players to accomplish that feat. Roy Emerson, Rod Laver and Novak Djokovic are the others.
Nadal’s 92 career singles titles are the fifth-most by a men’s player during the Open Era.
Spain will play the Netherlands in the 2024 Davis Cup quarterfinals on Nov. 19 at Martin Carpena Arena in Málaga, Spain.
