Rafael Nadal retires from tennis

Rafael Nadal, one of tennis' greatest icons, announced on Thursday that he will retire next month at the age of 38.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner announced the decision on social media.

In the video he explains that the upcoming Davis Cup final in Malaga, Spain, will mark the end of his 23-year professional career.

“It is the right time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could ever have imagined,” Nadal said.

The Spaniard's retirement brings to an end a brilliant career that spanned almost two decades and was marked by epic rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Together, the trio, dubbed the “Big Three,” redefined men’s tennis, collecting a total of 68 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal's physical playing style and resilience on the court made him a fan favorite and a formidable opponent.

In particular, his dominance on clay courts earned him the title of “King of the Clay Court,” as he won a record 14 French Open titles, more than any other player, male or female, in a single Grand Slam event.

A statue of Nadal stands at Roland Garros, home of the Open, honoring his unprecedented successes there.

However, injuries played a major role in his decision to retire.

These included chronic foot pain – he was diagnosed with Müller-Weiss syndrome in 2005 – and several knee problems.

“The reality is that it has been a difficult few years, especially the last two,” explained Nadal.

“I don’t think I could play without restrictions.”

The 38-year-old has not competed since this summer's Paris Olympics, where he lost to Djokovic in the second round.

He won Olympic gold in singles in Beijing in 2008 and doubles in Rio in 2016.

Since his professional debut in 2001, Nadal's career has been marked by memorable moments and legendary battles.

His victory over Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final, widely considered one of the greatest matches in tennis history, will remain a highlight for everyone who loves the sport.

Another epic showdown came in the final of the 2012 Australian Open, where Nadal took on Djokovic in a grueling, nearly six-hour marathon.

Nadal passed Federer for the men's Grand Slam title record in 2022, reaching 22 after wins at the Australian Open and French Open.

Nadal acknowledged the influence of his long-time rivals, saying: “I would like to thank the entire tennis industry, all the people involved in this sport, my long-time colleagues, especially my great rivals.”

He also expressed excitement about finishing his career in the Davis Cup, a competition that gave him some of his earliest professional joys.

“I am very happy that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and represent my country,” he said.

His decision to end his career at the Davis Cup is a turning point; As a teenager, he helped Spain win the title in 2004.

Nadal's retirement marks the end of an era in tennis, with Federer already retired and Djokovic nearing the end of his career at 37.

Federer retired in 2022 and following Nadal's departure, Djokovic is now the last active member of the Big Three.

The last man standing in sport's Greatest Of All-Time debate has now surpassed Nadal's competition record and set a new benchmark with 24 Grand Slam titles.

For Nadal, however, the trip itself seems to have been the real triumph.

“Everything I experienced was a dream come true,” he said.

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press