Rafael Nadal announces retirement from professional tennis

Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from professional tennis.

The 38-year-old, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, announced the news in a video message posted on X.

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

The 14-time French Open winner, who also boasts four US Open titles and won Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, has struggled with various injuries over the last few years.

Nadal admitted in May last year he was staring at the end of his career and that he hoped to be able to play a final year on tour in 2024.

“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country,” the tennis star said in Thursday’s video post.

He said the tournament would bring a fitting end to his career because “one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Sevilla in 2004” when Spain defeated the United States with Nadal victorious against the USA’s Andy Roddick.

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