Spanish star Rafael Nadal calls time on glittering tennis career

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Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from professional tennis, bringing an end to a glittering career that included 22 Grand Slam victories during what many consider a golden era for the men’s game.

The Spanish star revealed in a video message on Thursday that he would end his playing career after next month’s Davis Cup tournament, where he will represent his country after an injury-ridden two years.

“I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations,” Nadal said of the final stretch of his career. “It is obviously a difficult decision . . . but in this life, everything has a beginning and an end.”

The 38-year-old is known as the King of Clay for his dominance on the surface, particularly at the French Open, which he won a record 14 times. Roland-Garros thanked Nadal for the “millions of memories”, posted a crown emoji and called him King Rafa on social media site X.

Nadal is among an elite group of tennis players to have won all four majors and spent 209 weeks as world number one. He beat his great friend Roger Federer’s 20 Grand Slam count, although Serbian champion Novak Djokovic surpassed both players and has more singles major victories than any other man, with 24.

Born on the island of Mallorca, Nadal picked up tennis as a child and turned pro at 14 after impressing on the junior tour.

The left-hander won over fans with his physical style, seemingly endless running and powerful shots from behind the baseline. He won his first major at Roland-Garros in 2005, beginning an unprecedented 81-match winning streak on clay. By 2010, he had won every Grand Slam and a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

His commercial partners include Spanish bank Santander, sportswear maker Nike and luxury watchmaker Richard Mille. As well as lucrative sponsorship income, Nadal has earned more than $134mn in prize money, according to the men’s ATP Tour.

However, Nadal’s time on court has been limited by injuries in recent years, the toll of a professional career that began in 2001. Nadal played in Federer’s farewell two years ago, in a tearful goodbye to mark the Swiss star’s retirement.

Federer paid tribute to Nadal’s career in a message on Instagram. “What a career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come,” he wrote. “Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love. It’s been an absolute honour!”

While Nadal’s decision to put down his racket does not come as a surprise, it marks a huge moment in tennis history.

While new stars such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the current world number one and two ranked men’s players respectively, have emerged it was the “big three” of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic who set the benchmark for future generations.

Nadal and his two rivals made waves beyond the world of tennis. Portugal’s former Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo was another of those to pay tribute, writing on X: “Rafa, what an incredible race you’ve had! Your dedication, passion and incredible talent have inspired millions around the world.”

“It has been an honour to witness your journey and to be able to call you a friend. Congrats on an amazing career! Enjoy your retirement!”