Rafael Nadal is looking it a profession. In a video on his X account on Thursday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion introduced that he’ll formally retire from skilled tennis competitors following the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in November.
“The truth is that it has been some troublesome years, these final two particularly,” Nadal mentioned. “I do not assume I’ve been in a position to play with out limitations. It’s clearly a troublesome determination, one which has taken me a while to make. However on this life, the whole lot has a starting and an finish. And I believe it is the suitable time to place an finish to a profession that has been lengthy and rather more profitable than I might have ever imagined.”
Nadal beforehand alluded to the truth that 2024 is likely to be his final skilled season, however hadn’t made any bulletins previous to Thursday. Most just lately, Nadal participated within the 2024 Paris Olympics in each the singles and doubles tournaments.
“I’m very excited that my final match would be the closing of the Davis Cup and representing my nation,” Nadal mentioned. “I believe I’ve come full circle, since one in every of my first nice joys as knowledgeable tennis participant was the Davis Cup closing in Seville in 2004.”
Nadal, 38, has handled vital accidents in recent times as he missed practically all the 2023 tennis calendar as a consequence of a hip harm. He suffered one other setback in the beginning of the 12 months with a small muscle tear in his hip, although not in the identical spot the place he underwent surgical procedure.
In June, Nadal introduced that he was going to skip Wimbledon this 12 months as he ready for the Summer season Video games. The Spanish star has two Wimbledon titles to his title with the newest win coming in 2010. He has additionally gained a pair of Olympic gold medals throughout his skilled profession, taking residence an Olympic singles gold medal in 2008 and an Olympic doubles gold medal in 2016.
Nadal has gained 22 Grand Slam titles over the course of his profession. His biggest success got here at Roland Garros the place he gained the French Open an astonishing 14 instances. The 38-year previous gained his closing Grand Slam match in 2022 when he was victorious on the French Open.
