Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement
The King of Clay says Goodbye to Professional Tennis at Davis Cup
Nobody wanted to admit it, but the signs were that this day would come, and Spain’s Rafael Nadal would announce his retirement from professional tennis.
"I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis," Nadal said in a video posted on social media.
At the end of May, “The King of Clay,” the 14-time Roland Garros champion, played his last singles match on the Parisian Red Clay in his career. At the time, many wondered if Roland Garros would be his last match in Paris.
Though Nadal did not rule out coming back at the time, you could see he was a shell of himself against Alexander Zverev. When he struggled against players who were ranked lower than he was on his favourite surface in a warmup to the Olympics, you could see the writing was on the wall.
He played his final match at Court Philippe-Chartier during the Olympics, playing doubles with Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal tried to get back for the US Open Series and play the US Open, but his body would not allow him to play.
At the end of last season, Rafael Nadal announced that he would be playing at all his favorite tournaments. He would not call it a retirement tour, but he wanted to play at the events that were special to him. But most knew it was a retirement tour.
"The reality is it has been some difficult years, these last two especially,” Nadal added. “I don't think I have been able to play without limitations.
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 Era of the Big Three—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—has ended. Federer has long retired now, Nadal says this was his final year on Tour, and Djokovic is not playing up to his standard; what once was a given one of these men winning a major title is no longer a given.
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Who could forget when Rafael Nadal broke in on tour, winning majors and Masters 1000 events on clay? An incredible match down in Miami at the Key Biscayne against Federer in the final. Then he won the first 14-time Roland Garros titles in 2005, and his unbeaten streak was on.
His record of 112-4 at Roland Garros and 14 titles will never be touched. Nadal’s four titles are to Djokovic twice, Robin Soderling, and Alexander Zverev.
The 22-time Grand Slam Champion completed the Career Grand Slam twice. At first, Nadal was a career Clay Court player but adapted his game to the grass, winning Wimbledon for the first time in 2008 against Federer in an epic five-set match—probably the greatest match ever played.
He won Wimbledon again in 2010, his first US Open that August, and won that title three more times, his last in 2019. He won the Australian Open in 2009 in another epic final against Roger Federer. Then Nadal returned from two sets down to win his last Grand Slam title in 2022 in the Australian Open against Daniil Medvedev.
Hardcourts gave Nadal the most trouble because they beat up his body. However, he was successful on all surfaces, not just clay courts, winning an Olympic Gold Singles Medal in 2008 and then a double Gold in 2016.
And that is how Nadal will end his career playing doubles for Spain in the Davis Cup Final this November alongside Carlos Alcaraz.
“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country," said Nadal. "I think I’ve come full circle since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Sevilla in 2004.
“I feel super, super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience.”
Then Rafael Nadal thanked his fans.
“Finally, you, the fans. I can’t thank you enough for what you have made me feel,” said Nadal at the end of the video. “You have given me the energy I have needed at every moment.
“Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true. 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.”
Like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal was beloved wherever he went. Nadal was one of the best to play the game. His Uncle Toni changed him from a right-handed player to a left-handed player, and the rest was history.
Here is to you Rafael Nadal.