Tennis great Rafael Nadal announces retirement

PARIS (Reuters): Rafael Nadal will call time on his illustrious but injury-plagued career after next month’s Davis Cup Finals, the 22-times Grand Slam champion announced on Thursday, as one of the greatest players in the sport prepares for an emotional farewell.

Nadal, who won a record 14 French Open titles, had said previously he expected to retire this year after a hip injury that required surgery limited his appearances in 2023.

The 38-year-old was a surprise selection for the Nov. 19-24 Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, after last competing at the Paris Olympics in July and subsequently missing the U.S. Open and Laver Cup over fitness concerns.

“I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis,” Nadal said in a video posted on social media.

“The reality is 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,” added the former world number one.

Nadal, who has won two Australian Opens, two Wimbledon crowns and four U.S. Opens plus Olympic gold and four Davis Cups on top of his multiple French Open titles, said finishing his career in Spanish colours at the team event felt right.

He will link up again with four-times major champion Carlos Alcaraz after the duo played together at the Paris Games.

“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country,” said Nadal.

“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 Sevilla in 2004.

“I feel super, super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience.”