Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has ended his career

Rafael Nadal has had enough. The Spaniard retires from professional tennis at the age of 38. The superstar announced this on social media today. Nadal, one of the most successful tennis professionals in history, is retiring. In his glorious career, “the bull from Manacor” won an incredible 22 Grand Slam titles, the gold medal at the Olympics in singles and doubles and a total of 92 singles titles and eleven in doubles.

In a video that lasts over four minutes, Nadal looks back on his career. “Everything in life has a beginning and an end. I think it’s the right moment to end my career.” He will play his last tournament in the Davis Cup final in November. He won the title with the Spanish team a good 20 years ago. It could end up being Spain’s seventh triumph in the team competition.

His long-time rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic also appear in the video. “I spent so many hours with them. They are moments that I will probably never forget.”

Nadal also thanks his family. “My mother gave up so much so that I could have everything. My wife Mery, with whom I have been together for 19 years. “Thank you for everything,” said the Spaniard. He is now happy to see his son grow.

His sister is also mentioned. “Our connection has always been special.” His well-known uncle Toni and his father are also highlighted by Nadal. “Many thanks to my father, but also my uncle Toni, thanks to whom I started playing tennis.”

Nadal won his first match on the ATP tour in 2002 and shaped tennis for over two decades. “The clay court king” left particularly big shoes to fill at the French Open. The Iberian was able to win the title at Roland Garros an incredible 14 times, making him the record winner of the Paris Grand Slam tournament by a wide margin.

In addition to his successes at the French Open, Nadal also won the US Open four times and Wimbledon and the Australian Open twice each. He also won the title five times with the Spanish Davis Cup team. He was also named World Athlete of the Year at the beginning of 2011 and 2021.

The numerous, mostly epic duels with Nadal’s Roger Federer will be particularly memorable, and not just for Swiss tennis fans. In 40 direct encounters, Nadal defeated his long-term Swiss rival 24 times, including ten times at Grand Slam level. The 2008 Wimbledon final, for example, will never be forgotten when Nadal ended Federer’s reign at Church Road in a dramatic 5-set match. Likewise the Australian Open final in 2017, when the Swiss claimed the better end.

Nadal was also there at Federer’s big farewell show in 2022 at the Laver Cup in London and played a final doubles alongside the Basel bidder, followed by emotional scenes after the match.