Nadal confirms retirement date

Rafael Nadal has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2024 season.

The 38-year-old Spaniard will compete in his final professional event at the Davis Cup Finals, which will be held in Malaga from November 19 to 24.

“Hello everyone, I am here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis,” Nadal said in Spanish in a video on X. “The reality is that it has been a difficult few years, especially these last two. I don’t think I was able to play without limitations.

“It’s obviously a difficult decision, which took me some time, but in this life everything has a beginning and an end, and I think this is the right time to end a career that has been long and more successful than I could ever have imagined.”

Nadal is a 92-time tour-level champion and was ranked No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings for 209 weeks. Since turning professional in 2001, he has been one of the leaders on the ATP Tour. He is a 22-time Grand Slam title winner, a tally that includes a record 14 crowns at Roland Garros.

Nadal will conclude his legendary career on home soil in Malaga, where he will be part of the Spanish Davis Cup team that also includes Carlos Alcaraz. The host country will play the quarter-final against the Netherlands on Tuesday, November 19 from 5 p.m. local time (CET).

“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and will represent my country,” Nadal said. “I think I’ve come full circle since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004.

“I feel super, super happy with all the things I have been able to experience.”

Nadal, who has a 12-7 record so far going into 2024, then thanked his ATP Tour rivals, his team and his family (including his uncle and former coach Toni Nadal). Despite his body rarely allowing him to compete at full fitness over the past two seasons, the Spaniard’s trademark dedication to his sport has never wavered. He attributed part of his desire to continue playing for so long to the arrival of his son Rafael, whom he shares with his wife Maria.