MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Rafael Nadal’s remarkable tennis career came to an end Tuesday and he will retire after Spain lost to the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Final 8 quarterfinals.

The 38-year-old Nadal played on tour for more than two decades and collected 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 on his favorite clay at the French Open, and 92 singles titles in total. He reached No. 1 in the ATP rankings and spent the longest consecutive spell in the top 10 in history – almost 18 full years – until playing sparingly the past two seasons due to various injuries.

Nadal will forever be remembered as a member of the Big Three of men’s tennis, along with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Here’s a year-by-year look at the wins, losses, rivalries and injuries that marked Nadal’s career:

2024: Nadal’s early exit at the French Open

Nadal tried one last time, but missed three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, winning only 12-8 in singles. He was given a tough draw at his beloved French Open, losing in the first round to eventual number two Alexander Zverev. At the Paris Olympics, held at Roland Garros, Nadal was eliminated by Djokovic in the second round of the singles before dropping out alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the doubles. On October 10, Nadal announced that his final professional appearance would be at the Davis Cup, representing Spain at home in Malaga. On Tuesday, Nadal played his last match, losing 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands.

2023: Hip surgery for Nadal

Nadal lost to Mackie McDonald in the second round of the Australian Open while dealing with a left hip flexor injury. It was Nadal’s first Grand Slam defeat in seven years. He did not play the rest of the year and underwent hip surgery in June.

2022: Nadal wins his 21st and 22nd Slam titles

Nadal briefly held the record for most Grand Slam singles titles, breaking the tie with Federer to claim No. 21 at the Australian Open, coming back to beat Daniil Medvedev after winning the first two had dropped sets of the final. Nadal was then ranked No. 22 (Djokovic would eventually pass him and is currently ranked 24) at the French Open, where he overcame debilitating pain in his left foot with nerve-killing injections to lift the trophy for the 14th time by defeating Casper Ruud in the final. That improved Nadal’s career record there to 112-3. He withdrew from Wimbledon before the semifinals due to a torn abdominal muscle and then lost to Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round of the US Open.

2021: Nadal left foot sideline

Blowed a two-set lead against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, then lost to Djokovic in the semifinals of the French Open. Played only two games the rest of the year due to chronic pain in his left foot.

2020: Nadal ties Federer for major trophies

Even surpassed Federer with 20 Slam trophies with a 13th title at the French Open, beating Djokovic in the final. Won multiple titles in one season for the 16th year in a row.

2019: Nadal returns to No. 1 at age 33

French Open title No. 12 and US Open title No. 4 arrived, as well as a return to No. 1 at age 33. Lost to Djokovic in the Australian Open final and to Federer in the Wimbledon semifinals. Suffered from thigh, knee, left hand and abdominal problems at various points.

2018: Another French Open trophy for Nadal, but also several injuries

Won an 11th championship at Roland Garros. Stopped playing two Grand Slam matches elsewhere due to injuries and skipped other tournaments due to knee, hip and abdominal problems.

2017: 2 more Slam titles and the number 1 ranking for Nadal

After losing the Australian Open final to Federer in five sets, Nadal returned to dominance at the French Open, dropping just 35 games in seven matches on his way to a 10th title there, beating Stan Wawrinka in the final. He added a third US Open trophy – his 16th major overall, tied with Federer – and finished No. 1 in the rankings for the fourth time.

2016: No major quarter-finals for Nadal

For the first time since 2004, Nadal did not reach a single Grand Slam quarter-final. He lost in the first round of the Australian Open and withdrew from the French Open before the third round due to an injured left wrist and was out of action for months.

2015: Nadal’s 10-year Grand Slam trophy run ends

He lost to Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the French Open and bowed out at the other three majors at that stage or earlier, ending a decade-long streak with at least one Grand Slam trophy.

2014: Rafa catches Pistol Pete with #14

Nadal drew level with Pete Sampras on 14 Slam titles by adding French Open No. 9 and beating Djokovic in the final. Lost to 144th ranked Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round at Wimbledon and then missed three months with a bad right wrist. After his return, Nadal had to sit out two events due to appendicitis.

2013: 10 titles for Nadal, including 2 at Slams, and back at No. 1

After seven months off the tour due to his left knee and a stomach virus, Nadal put together a 10-title season that returned him to No. 1. Won an eighth French Open title (defeating current Spanish Davis Cup captain David Ferrer in the final) and second US Open title (by beating Djokovic in the final), increasing his Grand Slam total to 13, at the time trailing only Sampras and Federer (17).

2012: A 7th French Open triumph and early Wimbledon exit for Nadal

Beat Djokovic for a seventh French Open title. At Wimbledon he lost in the second round to Lukas Rosol while hampered by a left knee problem that sidelined him for the rest of the season.

2011: Nadal equals Bjorn Borg at Roland Garros

He hurt a muscle in his left leg at the Australian Open but performed well at the French Open and equaled Bjorn Borg’s men’s career with a sixth championship, beating Federer in the final. Nadal lost seven of the ten finals that season, including six setbacks against Djokovic, including at Wimbledon and the US Open.

2010: Nadal resumes his winning ways at the French Open

Retired during his Australian Open quarter-final match due to an injured right knee, but returned to top form at the French Open, winning his fifth title in Paris and not dropping a set, beating Robin Soderling in the final. Won Wimbledon for the second time and then completed a Grand Slam career by beating Djokovic in the US Open final. Ended the year at number 1.

2009: Nadal’s stunning loss to Soderling in Paris

Won his first Australian Open title, beating Federer in a five-set final, after getting past Fernando Verdasco in a five-set semi-final. Nadal’s 31-match unbeaten streak at the French Open ended with a fourth-round loss to Soderling. Nadal suffered from patellar tendonitis and had to sit out Wimbledon. Suffering from an abdominal problem, he reached the semifinals of the US Open before losing to champion Juan Martin del Potro.

2008: Nadal wins a memorable Wimbledon final against Federer

He defeated Federer in the Roland Garros final to take a fourth consecutive trophy, making Nadal the first man since Borg in 1978-81 to have such a long run in Paris – and the first since Borg to win the title without losing a set to drop. Once again Federer played in the final at the All England Club, but this time Nadal won in fading light 9-7 in the fifth set. Also won a gold medal in singles at the Beijing Olympics, finishing the year ranked No. 1, despite tendonitis in his right knee.

2007: Federer ends Nadal’s 81-match winning streak on clay

A third straight French Open title came via another victory over Federer – and then Federer defeated him in the Wimbledon final. Nadal’s winning streak on clay reached 81 matches before losing to Federer in Hamburg, Germany.

2006: A second victory at the French Open for Nadal

Earned a second French Open title, beating Federer in the final there before losing to him in the Wimbledon final. Extended his winning streak on clay to a record 62 matches.

2005: A winning Roland Garros debut for Nadal and a top 10 finish begins

Won the title in his French Open debut; his eleven trophies for the year were the most in a season for a teenager in ATP history. Entered the top 10 in April and stayed there until March 2023. Ended at number 2 in 2005.

2004: Nadal helps Spain win the Davis Cup, beating Federer

Beat then-No. 1 Federer in Miami. Won his first ATP title in Sopot, Poland, on clay. Defeated Andy Roddick to help Spain beat the United States and win the Davis Cup.

2003: A 17-year-old Rafa reaches the third round of Wimbledon

Reached the third round at 17 on his Wimbledon debut, the youngest man to get that far at the All England Club since Boris Becker was 16 in 1984.

2002: Rafael Nadal’s career begins at the age of 15

At 15 years and 10 months he achieved the first ATP match victory in his hometown Mallorca.

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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis