By Abiola Olawale
Legendary athlete Rafael Nadal has announced his decision to retire from tennis at the end of the season.
Nadal on Thursday announced that he will bow out after the Davis Cup finals in November, bringing an end to his illustrious career which brought 22 Grand Slam titles, global respect and inspired epic, iconic rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, respectively.
In a video shared on social media on Thursday, Nadal, a 38-year-old Spaniard explained that he has been playing with “limitations” due to injuries.
According to him, the injuries have made it impossible for him to continue playing tennis.
He said: “Hello everyone. I’m here to let you know that I’m retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it’s been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.
“It is 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.
“… my family is everything to me. My mother, I think has made all the sacrifices she had to make so that we would always have everything.
“My wife, Mary, we’ve been together for 19 years. Thank you for everything you have done. I think you’ve been the perfect travel companion during all these years of my career. To come home and see how my son is growing every day has been a force that has kept me alive and with the necessary energy to continue.
“My sister, I think we have always had an incredible relationship. My uncle is the reason I started playing tennis. I believe that thanks to him I have also been able to overcome many situations that have been difficult in my sporting career. And to my father who I believe has been a source of inspiration for me in every sense of the word. I think he has been an example of effort, of overcoming. Many. Many thanks to my father in a very, very special way.
“And finally, you the fans. I can’t thank you enough for what you have made me feel. You have given me the energy I need at every moment. Everything I have experienced has been a dream come true. I leave with the absolute peace of mind of having given my best, of having made an effort in every way.”
Dubbed the “king of clay”, Nadal won the French Open on his first attempt as a 19-year-old in 2005. He won the title nine times in his first 10 attempts. He has won it 14 times overall, with a 96.6% win rate.
Nadal won all four Grand Slam titles at 24 years and an Olympic singles gold medal, becoming the youngest player to achieve both feats in the Open Era. His illustrious career includes 92 ATP and 36 masters titles respectively.
He was a five-time year-end world number one and never left the top 10 from 2005 until March last year.
In total, he spent 209 weeks in the top spot and, between 2004 and 2022, won at least one title every year.
In his long rivalry with close friend Federer, who retired two years ago, he enjoyed a 24-16 edge. Nadal surpassed Federer’s mark of 20 majors in Australia in 2022.
