Main photo credit:Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports

Rafael Nadal Announces Retirement from Tennis

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Ateet Shrivastava | Last updated Oct 10, 2024 7:52 AM ET

22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from tennis at the end of the year. The Davis Cup finals will be his last professional tournament. He posted a touching video on his social media, announcing his retirement and thanking everyone who has made his career special.

The last few years of constant injuries have taken their toll on him, and despite his maximum effort to make a comeback, he never regained a good enough level. Nadal first announced last year that 2024 would be his last season. However, this year, he constantly gave a glimmer of hope that he might play further. But he hasn’t played any tennis since the Olympics. He gave it one final go this year, his results and having to constantly withdraw from many events showed him once and for all that his body can’t take it anymore, and that’s when he decided to call it a day.

Rafael Nadal announces that he will retire from tennis after the Davis Cup finals pic.twitter.com/gwXcaxSl4Q

— Olly (@Olly_Tennis_) October 10, 2024

A Final Goodbye at the Davis Cup

Rafael Nadal has been one of the greatest players in tennis history. He has given countless memories to the tennis world and without him, the sport wouldn’t have reached the pinnacle it has in the last 20 years. Two decades of amazing battles, disappointments, and injuries, yet Nadal’s love for tennis and his dedication were amazing. His grit and passion is probably the greatest in any of the sports. Undoubtedly the greatest clay courter ever and his record of 14 French Open titles might not be broken for decades, if not centuries. The Spaniard has given so much to the sport and many young players idolise him.

Playing for his country has been tremendously important to Nadal throughout his career, and retiring in the colours of Spain on his home soil is a fitting way to cap a legendary career. The Davis Cup finals will start on November 19th and Nadal as always, will give his best to help his team win. He wouldn’t want to make the retirement the main storyline and would want to do what’s best for the team still. It will be interesting to see whether he plays singles or not. Nadal is next scheduled to play in the Six Kings Slam, an exhibition tournament that will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia starting October 16th.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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