Tennis great Rafael Nadal to retire after Davis Cup finals in November

Nadal will bring down the curtain on a 23-year career that saw him win 22 Grand Slam singles title and an Olympic gold.

Spain’s iconic tennis player Rafael Nadal has announced his decision to retire from the sport at the age of 38 following next month’s Davis Cup finals.

“I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially,” Nadal, who won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, said in a video posted on social media on Thursday.

“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup representing my country,” the 38-year-old, who won a record 14 French Open titles, added in the emotional message.

“It’s closing the circle because one of my first joys was the final in Sevilla in 2004.”

The Davis Cup knockout phase will be played from November 19-24.

Nadal’s 23-year career has been hampered by injuries and he missed the 2023 French Open and was beaten in the first round by German Alexander Zverev this year.

He won his last Roland Garros title in 2022 and left the Paris clay on a jaw-dropping 112-4 win-loss record.

One last dance 💚

Rafael Nadal will retire after playing the Final 8 in Malaga in November.#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/75FdqOBWDc

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) October 10, 2024