CNN
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Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has announced his upcoming retirement from the sport after a glittering career that saw him amass 22 grand slam titles.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Nadal’s final tournament will take place with Spain at the Davis Cup final in November.

The 38-year-old last played at the Olympic Games in Paris but persistent injuries, which have hampered him throughout his career, have severely limited his time on the field over the past two seasons.

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

“It’s obviously a difficult decision that 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 much more successful than I could ever have imagined.”

Nadal, who had to skip the Laver Cup last month due to fitness issues, announced last year that 2024 would likely be his last season on the tour.

His 22 Grand Slam titles are the second most in the history of men’s tennis, behind only Novak Djokovic, his long-time great rival, as are his 36 Masters 1000 titles.

Nadal also won gold in singles and doubles for Spain at the Olympic Games and led his country to four Davis Cup titles.

Dubbed the ‘King of Clay’ for his remarkable dominance on the surface, Nadal won 14 of his grand slams at the French Open and lost just four of his 116 matches in Paris.

He also won the US Open four times and the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice, while his victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final is widely regarded as the greatest tennis match of all time.

“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and will represent my country,” Nadal added. “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 everything I have been able to experience.

“I would like to thank the entire tennis industry. All the people involved in this sport, my old colleagues, especially my great rivals. I spent many, many hours with them and had many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.

“Talking about my team is a little harder for me because ultimately my team has been a very important part of my life. They’re not colleagues, they’re friends. They were by my side at all times when I really needed them. Very bad moments, very good moments.”

Nadal had suggested all season that he could continue playing next year if his body allowed him to be competitive.

After missing most of 2023 due to a hip injury, Nadal returned to competitive tennis in January at the Brisbane Open but was forced to miss the Australian Open with a thigh injury.

Since then he has played in just six tournaments, most recently the Paris Olympics where he lost to Djokovic in the second round of the men’s singles.

“I leave with absolute peace of mind that I did my best, that I did my best in every way possible,” he said.

Federer, whose rivalry with Nadal is perhaps the greatest in tennis history, said it was an “honor” to play against the Spaniard. The pair shared a tearful moment that went viral during Federer’s own retirement ceremony in 2022.

“What a career, Rafa!” Federer wrote on Instagram. “I always hoped this day would never come. Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love. It was an absolute honor!”