Rafa Nadal pays tribute to his wife Mery Perelló and their son as he announces his retirement

Rafa Nadal's departure from tennis marks the end of an era for the sport as one of the most famous players in tennis history bids farewell. As he emotionally reflected on his journey, Nadal paid tribute to the countless people who have been crucial to his career. Thanks to the support of his family – his parents, Ana Maria Parera And Sebastian Nadalhis uncle and long-time trainer, Toni Nadalhis sister, Maria Isabel Nadal, to his wife, Mery Perelloand her two-year-old son, each of whom played a crucial role in his success.

Amid the relentless hours of training and electrifying moments on the court, one constant remained – the support of Nadal's family. Their sacrifices and encouragement, from his mother's selfless acts to his wife's companionship, have undoubtedly shaped Nadal's remarkable tennis legacy.

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Nadal's open letter to his loved ones

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“Family is everything to me, right? I think my mother made all the sacrifices she had to make so that we would always have everything.”

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My wife Mery and I have been together for 19 years. Thank you for everything you have done. You have been my perfect travel companion throughout all the years of my career. Coming home every day and watching my son grow kept me going and gave me the energy to keep going.

My sister, I think we have always maintained an incredible relationship.

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My uncle, who was the reason I started playing tennis. I think that thanks to him I was able to overcome many difficult situations in my sports career.

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And to my father, who was a source of inspiration for me in every way, who was an example of effort and overcoming. Thank you to my father in a very, very special way.

Rafael Nadal's remarkable tennis legacy

Rafael Nadal Parera was number 1 in the ATP world rankings for 209 weeks. His five-year No. 1 rankings and 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record 14 French Opens, demonstrate his unparalleled skill and dominance. His 81 consecutive wins on clay are the longest winning streak on any surface in the Open era and further cement his legacy.

Nadal is one of the “Big Three” of tennis Roger Federer And Novak Djokovic. He was one of the most successful teenage players in ATP history, becoming world No. 2 and winning 16 titles before turning 20. In 2008 he defeated Federer in a historic Wimbledon final, won Olympic gold in singles and became No. 1. In 2010 he became the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam. That same year he won titles on all three surfaces (hard, grass and sand).

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After injury setbacks, Nadal came back strong in 2013, winning multiple Grand Slams, including the French Open and US Open, as well as Olympic doubles gold in 2016. In 2022, he broke the joint Grand Slam record with Djokovic and Federer by winning the won Australian Open. Nadal is known for his powerful left-handed forehand and exceptional return game. Off the court he has won several awards for sporting achievements and opened a tennis academy in Mallorca.

In October 2024, Nadal announced his retirement after the Davis Cup final, where he will represent Spain. He withdrew from the Laver Cup in September.