Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has officially announced his retirement from professional tennis. His final tournament will be the Davis Cup Finals, which will take place in November 2024 in Malaga. Novak Djokovic, Federer and Nadal formed the “Big Three,” which, to date, has won 66 Grand Slam titles. Federer retired in 2022, but Djokovic continues to perform at the highest level.
One of the most decorated tennis players in history, Rafael Nadal confirmed his decision to leave the sport after much reflection. The 38-year-old athlete shared the difficulties of recent years, during which injuries prevented him from performing at his best.
“The reality is that the last few years have been very tough, especially the last two. I don’t think I’ve been able to play without limitations,” Nadal said in a video statement released on October 10. “Obviously, this was a difficult decision, and it took me time to make it. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end.”
The Beginning of a Great Career
Rafael Nadal won his first professional match at the age of 15 at a Challenger tournament in Seville, and from there, his career skyrocketed. Nadal became one of the greatest players in tennis history, winning 22 Grand Slam titles, 14 of which came at his favorite tournament, the French Open. He will retire with an extraordinary record of 112 wins and only 4 losses on the courts of Roland Garros.
His last Grand Slam match took place at the 2024 French Open, where he lost to Alexander Zverev.
Great Rivalries and Titles
One of the most iconic moments in Nadal’s career came in the 2008 Wimbledon final, where he defeated Roger Federer in one of the greatest matches in tennis history, lasting 4 hours and 48 minutes. This victory ended Federer’s five-year dominance at Wimbledon and marked the beginning of one of the greatest rivalries in sports history. Alongside Novak Djokovic, Federer and Nadal formed the “Big Three,” which, to date, has won 66 Grand Slam titles. Federer retired in 2022, but Djokovic continues to perform at the highest level.
Foto: Clive Mason / Getty Images / NYT
