Ace Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal on Thursday announced his retirement from the sport, saying that he will play his last professional match at the end of the ongoing season.
In a video message released on Thursday, Nadal said: "I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, the last two especially."
Mil gracias a todos Many thanks to allMerci beaucoup à tousGrazie mille à tutti谢谢大家شكرا لكم جميعا תודה לכולכםObrigado a todosVielen Dank euch allenTack allaХвала свимаGràcies a tots pic.twitter.com/7yPRs7QrOi
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) October 10, 2024
Nadal will make his final appearance for next month's Davis Cup finals in Malaga in Spain. The knockouts of the prestigious tournament will be played from November 19.
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"I don't think I have been able to play without limitations," Nadal said.
The ace tennis star's career has been hampered by injuries and he missed the French Open last year, his favourite tournament, and was defeated in the first round by Germany's Alexander Zverev in the 2024 edition of the marquee major.
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Nadal won his last French Open title two years back and left the Paris clay on a jaw-dropping 112-4 win-loss record. He will retire as the second-most successful men's tennis player in the world, only after long-time rival Novak Djokovic.
Rightfully nicknamed the 'King of Clay', Nadal won the French Open singles title a record 14 times, winning 112 of his 116 Grand Slam matches at the coveted clay of the Roland Garros.
Besides winning the French Open a record number of times, Nadal has also won the Australian Open (2009 & 2022) and Wimbledon (2008 & 2010) twice and the US Open (2010, 2013, 2017 & 2019) on four occasions.
Nadal won the 2008 Beijing Olympic gold as well, besides the 2016 Rio Olympic gold in men's doubles with Marc Lopez. He has won four Davis Cup titles with Spain, in 2004, 2009, 2011 and 2019.
Nadal last featured at the Paris Olympics, where he lost in the second round to Djokovic.