Rafael Nadal announces tennis retirement in emotional video: 'It's the right time'

Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from professional tennis at the age of 38.

In an emotional video posted to his social media channels on Thursday, the Spaniard said it was the right time to end his illustrious career having been severely hampered by injury over recent years.

Nadal intends to play for Spain in the upcoming Davis Cup finals on home soil in Malaga next month before hanging up his racket for good.

“Hello everyone, I’m here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis,” Nadal said.

“The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.

“It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But, in this life, everything has a beginning and an end.

“And I think it’s the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.

“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country. I think I’ve come full circle, since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Sevilla in 2004.”

Spain are up against the Netherlands indoors at the Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena in the Davis Cup quarter-finals on November 19, with a semi-final against either Germany or Canada to come on November 22 if the hosts advance. The final is on November 24, with Italy, Argentina, the United States and Australia on the other side of the draw.

Nadal retires as one of tennis’ true greats, his 20 Grand Slam singles titles second on the all-time men’s list behind only Novak Djokovic (22). Along with Djokovic and great rival Roger Federer, the so-called ‘big three’ of men’s tennis produced one of the most memorable and iconic eras the sport has ever seen.

The ‘King of Clay’ holds the record for the most French Open titles won with 14 and has 92 ATP titles to his name in total as well as spending 209 weeks as men’s world No1, ending five different years at the top of the rankings.

The last two years have been difficult... I haven’t been able to play without limitations

He won Wimbledon twice, in 2008 and 2010, to go along with four US Open triumphs and two at the Australian Open. His last Grand Slam success came with an Australian Open and French Open double in 2022.

Nadal won 36 ATP Masters titles, four Davis Cup crowns and also claimed two Olympic gold medals, one in singles at Beijing 2008 and another in the men’s doubles alongside Marc Lopez in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

However, his recent career had been blighted by injury, with Nadal missing much of the 2023 season with a hip issue suffered at the Australian Open.

He has only played in seven tournaments so far this year, missing the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open having been knocked out in the first round of the French Open in May by Alexander Zverev.

Nadal has only entered two competitions since Roland Garros, beaten in the final of the Swedish Open in July before losing to Djokovic in the second round of the Olympic singles in Paris. He made the men’s doubles quarter-finals as part of a high-profile pairing with Carlos Alcaraz.

Nadal continued: “I feel super, super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience. I want to thank the entire tennis industry.

“All the people involved in this sport: my long-time colleagues, especially my great rivals. I have spent many, many hours with them, and I have lived many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.

“Talking about my team is a little bit more difficult for me because in the end my team has been a very important part of my life.

“They are not just co-workers, they are friends. They have been by my side at all the times I have really needed them.

“Very bad moments, very good moments, moments when I had to be pushed, moments they gave me more slack. We have lived so much together that it is hard to explain.

“My family is everything to me. My mother, I think she has made all the sacrifices she had to make so that we would always have everything.

“My wife, Mery, we’ve been together for 19 years. Thank you for everything you have done. I think you have been the perfect travel companion during all these years of my career.

“To come home and see how my son is growing every day has been a force that has really kept me alive and with the necessary energy to continue.

“My sister, I think we have always had an incredible relationship. My uncle, who is the reason I started playing tennis. I believe that thanks to him, I have also been able to overcome many situations that have been difficult in my sporting career.

“And to my father, who I believe has been a source of inspiration for me in every sense of the word. I think he has been an example of effort, of overcoming. Many, many thanks to my father in a very, very special way.

“And finally, you the fans. I can’t thank you enough for what you have made me feel. You have given me the energy I have needed at every moment.

“Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true. I leave with absolute peace of mind having given my best, of having made an effort in every way. I can only end by saying a thousands thanks to all and see you soon.”

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