Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he will retire after the Davis Cup finals in November, bringing an end to a career that earned him 22 Grand Slam titles, global admiration, and unforgettable rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
“I’m retiring from professional tennis. The truth is, these last few years have been challenging, especially the last two,” Nadal said in a social media video. “It’s obviously a tough decision, one I’ve taken time to consider. But everything in life has a beginning and an end.”
At 38, the Spanish tennis legend will conclude his 20-year professional career with 92 titles and prize money totaling $135 million. His legacy as one of the greatest players in tennis history is secure.
“What a career, Rafa! I always wished this day would never come,” said 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer. “Thank you for the unforgettable memories and your incredible achievements in the game we both love. It’s been an absolute honor!”
Current world number one Jannik Sinner described Nadal’s retirement as “tough news for the tennis world.”
Nadal is set to join Carlos Alcaraz in Spain’s team for the Davis Cup, where he hopes to finish his career with a sixth title in Malaga next month.
“I think it’s the right time to close the chapter on a career that has been longer and more successful than I ever imagined,” Nadal said. “But I’m thrilled that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final, representing my country.”
“I feel like I’ve come full circle,” he added, reflecting on winning his first Davis Cup as a teenager in 2004.
Nadal dominated the French Open, where he claimed 14 of his Grand Slam titles. His first victory came just days after his 19th birthday in 2005, and his last in 2022 briefly made him the tournament’s oldest champion, until Djokovic broke that record the following year.
On Roland Garros’ clay courts, Nadal won 113 of his 118 matches. He also secured four US Open titles and two Australian Open titles, the first in 2009 and the second 13 years later.
Nadal’s Wimbledon victories in 2008 and 2010 highlighted his adaptability, even on grass—a surface often seen as his weakest.
Rafael Nadal’s epic five-set victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final, played out in near darkness at the All England Club, is often hailed as the greatest Grand Slam final ever. That same year, Nadal completed a career Golden Slam by securing Olympic gold.
Nadal finished five seasons as the world number one and remained in the top 10 from 2005 until March of last year. In total, he spent 209 weeks as the top-ranked player and won at least one title every year between 2004 and 2022.
In his storied rivalry with close friend Federer, who retired two years ago, Nadal held a 24-16 advantage. In 2022, he surpassed Federer’s 20 Grand Slam titles by winning in Australia. Nadal also faced off against Novak Djokovic, the all-time leader with 24 Grand Slam titles, 60 times, with Djokovic holding a narrow 30-28 lead.
Their last meeting was at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where an underpowered Nadal lost in straight sets. A few days later, he played his final match, a doubles quarter-final alongside Carlos Alcaraz.
Despite his historic achievements, Nadal’s career was frequently interrupted by injuries, a consequence of his physically intense playing style. Throughout his career, he missed 18 Grand Slam tournaments and withdrew from five others mid-event due to injuries to his ankle, wrist, knee, elbow, and abdomen.
At the 2022 French Open, Nadal revealed that his victory would have been impossible without daily pain-relieving injections in his foot. He later underwent a medical procedure to burn nerves in his foot, extending his career for a time. But the strain on his body became increasingly evident.
An abdominal injury forced him out of Wimbledon, where he had reached the semi-finals, and a hip injury at the Australian Open the following January led to his earliest exit in a major in seven years. His wife, Mery, was seen in tears as she watched him struggle through his final match.
Nadal possibly sensed the writing was on the wall at the 2022 Laver Cup in London when he played alongside Federer in the great Swiss star’s final tournament.
At 41, and unable to shake off a knee injury, Federer called it quits.
The two men wept and even grasped each other’s hands as the Federer era ended.
“When Roger leaves the tour, an important part of my life is leaving too,” said Nadal.
