The iconic Spanish tennis player has decided to call time on an era-defining career on the court
The news we didn’t want has arrived – Rafael Nadal is retiring from professional tennis.
The 38-year-old Spaniard hangs up his racket with 92 honours, 22 of which are Grand Slam titles. In addition to having won the gold medal at the Olympic Games, both in singles and doubles, and five Davis Cups.
Nadal posted a video to his social media channels to announce the decision, explaining: “The reality is that the last two years have been difficult and I have not been able to play without limitations. It is a difficult decision, which has taken me time but in this life everything has a beginning and an end. I think it’s the right time to put an end to what has been a long and much more successful career than I could have ever imagined”.
“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and representing my country. I think it is closing the circle since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the final in Seville in 2004,” he recalls.
Rafa became known to the world when he defeated Andy Roddick at the age of 18.
“I feel very fortunate for all the things I have been able to experience. I want to thank the entire tennis industry, all the people who make up this sport and those who have been my partners for so many years, especially my great rivals. I have spent so many hours with them and I have lived moments that I will remember for the rest of my life”, Nadal reflects, while interspersed with images of his great battles with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
The importance of the environment
“Talking about my team is a little more difficult for me because they have been a very important part of my life. They are not workers, they are friends and they have been by my side in every moment I have needed them. There have been very bad times, very good times, times when they have had to squeeze me, when they have had to loosen up. We’ve lived so much together that it’s hard to explain,” Nadal continues, while snapshots of his trainers, his doctor, his agent and his communications manager appear.
