Rafa Nadal announces his retirement | ATP Tour

Rafael Nadal

Nadal announces his retirement

The Spaniard will play the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga for the last time

October 10, 2024

“Hello everyone. I am here to inform you that I am retiring from professional tennis.”

This is how Rafael Nadal began a video lasting more than four minutes in which he announced his retirement from professional tennis. Published this Thursday morning, the champion of 22 Grand Slam titles confirmed that he is leaving at the age of 38, and that he will play his last tournament in the Davis Cup Finals, which will take place in Malaga starting on November 19 .

“The reality is that they have been difficult years, these last two especially,” Nadal explained. “I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations. It is a decision that is obviously difficult, that has taken me time to make, but in this life everything has a beginning and an end,” he added. “I think it is the right time to put an end to what has been a long and much more successful career than I could have ever imagined, but I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and representing my country. I think it is closing the circle, since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the final in Seville in 2004.”

Until we see what happens in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Nadal will leave with 22 Grand Slam titles, which join a total of 92 titles won throughout more than 20 years of professional career. In addition to two gold medals in the Olympic Games (both in singles and doubles), the Mallorcan has five Davis Cup trophies, which could be six if Spain wins the competition again this year.

“I feel very lucky for all the things I have been able to experience and I want to thank the entire tennis industry,” Nadal continued. “To my teammates for so many years, especially my great rivals. “I have spent many hours with them and I have lived many of the moments that I will remember for the rest of my life,” he continued. “Talking about my team is a little more difficult for me. In the end, my team has been a very important part of my life. They are not workers, they are friends and they have been by my side in all the moments when I have really needed them. Very bad moments, very good moments, moments that I had to tighten, moments that I had to relax. “We have lived so much together that it is difficult to explain.”

In addition to remembering his team, the Spaniard had a special memory for his family in the video in which he announced his retirement.

“Family is everything to me,” Nadal acknowledged. “I think my mother has made all the sacrifices she had to make so that we would always have everything,” he said. My wife, Mery. We have been together for 19 years. Thank you for everything you have done, I think you have been my perfect travel companion during all these years of my career. Coming home and seeing how my son is growing every day has been a force that has really kept me alive and with the necessary energy to continue,” he noted. “My sister. I think we have always had an incredible relationship. My uncle, who is the reason I started playing tennis. I think that thanks to him I have been able to overcome many situations that have been difficult in my sports career. And to my father, who I think has been a source of inspiration for me in every way. It has been an example of effort and improvement. “Thank you very much to my father in a very special way.”

“And finally, you, the fans”, . “I have no way to thank you for what you have made me feel. You have given me the energy that I have needed at every moment. Truly everything I have experienced has been a dream come true. I leave with the absolute peace of mind of having given my all, of having made an effort in every way. I can only finish by saying a thousand thanks to everyone and see you soon.”

The Davis Cup Finals will be held in Malaga from November 19 to 24. Spain will play on Tuesday the 19th against the Netherlands.