Rafael Nadal calls it a career. In a video on his X account on Thursday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion announced that he will officially retire from professional tennis after the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in November.
“The reality is that it has been a difficult few years, especially the last two,” Nadal said. “I don’t think I could play without restrictions. It's obviously a difficult decision that took me some time. But in this life everything has a beginning and an end. And I think that's it.” It's the right time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.
Nadal had previously hinted that 2024 could be his final professional season but had made no announcements as of Thursday. Most recently, Nadal took part in both the singles and doubles tournaments at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“I am very happy that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and that I will represent my country,” said Nadal. “I think it’s come full circle for me because one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004.”
Nadal, 38, has struggled with significant injuries in recent years, missing almost the entire 2023 tennis calendar due to a hip injury. He suffered another setback at the start of the year with a small muscle tear in his hip, although not in the area where he had undergone surgery.
In June, Nadal announced he would skip Wimbledon this year to prepare for the Summer Games. The Spanish star has two Wimbledon titles to his name, the last victory coming in 2010. During his professional career, he has also won two Olympic gold medals, including an Olympic gold medal in singles in 2008 and an Olympic gold medal in doubles in 2008 2016.
Nadal has won 22 Grand Slam titles throughout his career. He celebrated his greatest success at Roland Garros, where he won the French Open an astonishing 14 times. The 38-year-old won his last Grand Slam tournament in 2022 when he won the French Open.
