Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, announced his retirement at age 38 on Thursday, ending the most dominant clay-court career in the sport’s history.
Nadal’s 22 Grand Slams put him second on the list of all-time greats, behind Novak Djokovic. Nadal, known for his mastery of clay and his on-court rivalry with Roger Federer, said he would play his final match at the Davis Cup in November.
“It’s obviously a difficult decision, one that I’ve had to make for a long time,” he said in a video on X. “Everything in this life has a beginning and an end. And I think it’s an appropriate time to end a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”
The latter part of Nadal’s career was plagued by injuries, one of the reasons for his retirement, he said.
“It’s been a tough few years, especially the last two,” he said of footage of him undergoing physical therapy. “I don’t think I’ve ever been able to play without limitations.”
Born on the Spanish holiday island of Mallorca, Nadal won two Grand Slams at Wimbledon and the Australian Open. But his generational career was built on his sheer dominance at the French Open, where he won 14 titles in 17 years from 2005 to 2022.
According to the Association of Tennis Professionals, tennis’ governing body, he has won nearly $135 million in prize money.
His Roland-Garros record is an astonishing 112 wins and four losses. And he has become so synonymous with the tournament that a statue was unveiled in 2021 depicting his signature left forehand. Despite being the sport’s best left-handed player, Nadal is actually right-handed for other tasks, such as writing.
“I’m a bit odd about all that,” he said in 2020. “I eat and play basketball with my right; I play tennis and football with my left.”
His bond with the French capital was crowned this summer at the Paris Olympics, when he was one of the torchbearers who carried the flame up the Seine during the opening ceremony.
Although he played in those Games and lost in the second round to Djokovic, he subsequently withdrew from the US Open and the Laver Cup, saying before the latter team-based tournament that “there are other players at the moment who can help the team win.” That led to rumors that his retirement was imminent.
Nadal’s most recent two Grand Slams — the 2022 French and Australian Opens — pushed him past Federer for the then-record 20 men’s Grand Slam titles.
The pair spent years in an elite but seemingly good-natured rivalry, culminating in the marathon Wimbledon final in 2008, widely regarded as one of the greatest matches of all time. The match was a replay of the thrilling final from the year before. Federer, then the world number one and arguably the best on grass, faced a newcomer, Nadal, who at 22 was already known as a clay-court prodigy.
The London crowd was treated to five sets in nearly five hours, ending in the dark at 9pm in the longest Wimbledon final ever. Nadal won the first two sets and was then pushed back 2-2 before winning the final, epic set 9-7.
“This is the best match I’ve ever seen,” said former star John McEnroe, who himself held the record for the longest Wimbledon final in 1982 (which was overtaken by Federer and Djokovic in 2019).
Federer announced his retirement at the age of 41 at the end of the 2022 season. Both he and Nadal have since been surpassed in Grand Slams by Djokovic, who currently stands at 24, putting Djokovic on the “greatest ever” list, despite being more divisive among fans.
Nadal’s final appearance will come on home soil in Malaga, Spain, where he will play on the Davis Cup team alongside rising compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 2.
“I’m very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final representing my country,” he said in his video. “I’ve come full circle, because one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004.”
Nadal also paid tribute to his wife of 19 years, Maria Perello, 36, and son, Rafael Nadal Jr., 2, whom he described as “a force that really kept me alive.”
Finally, he thanked his fans. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve made me feel,” he said. “You’ve given me the energy I needed at every moment.”