Rafael Nadal makes big announcement about retirement, reveals final tournament of his career
Rafael Nadal has finally confirmed that the 2024 season will be his final year on the ATP Tour, sending the tennis world into a frenzy. The Spaniard also in the process revealed what will be his final tournament as a tennis professional.
Nadal had said last year that 2024 might be his retirement year, at the same time saying that he would only decide for certain when it was time. After starting his season this year in Melbourne, Nadal has been playing on and off, sidelined with minor injuries. He was last seen in action at the Paris Olympics, reaching the second round of the singles before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic, while exiting the doubles competition in the quarterfinals alongside Carlos Alcaraz.
After that, the 22-time Grand Slam champion pulled out of the US Open, and then out of the Laver Cup. With fans eager to know when he might be playing next, the Mallorcan took to social media on Thursday to drop the news of his impending retirement.
Rafael Nadal said in a video,
"I'm here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, especially the last two. I don't think I have been able to play without difficulties.
"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."
Nadal, will therefore, be retiring after one final hurrah at the Davis Cup, where he will be joined by Alcaraz. Spain has already qualified for the knockouts of the Davis Cup Finals, set to be held in November. He said,
"But I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country. 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."
Spain's captain David Ferrer has spoken previously about Nadal's eagerness to play in the competition, stating this week in an interview,
"When the draw came out, I sent him a message and told him to prepare to play against Botic Van de Zandschulp. His answer was clear: 'I will be ready.'"
Before the Davis Cup, Nadal will play the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia, where he will be joined by the likes of Djokovic, Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev.
"I want to thank the entire tennis industry, especially my great rivals" - Rafael Nadal
Continuing in the video, Rafael Nadal extended his gratitude to the entire tennis industry, including his colleagues and rivals, the most prominent of whom are Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.
However, the Spaniard was a little more reticent and emotional when it came to talking about his team members, which includes the likes of Marc Lopez and Carlos Moya as coaches. Nadal said they were more than just co-workers for him, to the point that he considered them actual friends of his.
“I feel super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience. I want to thank the entire tennis industry, all the people involved in this sport, my longtime colleagues, especially my great rivals.
"Talking about my team is a little bit more difficult for me, because in the end, my team has been a very important part of my life. They’re not just co-workers. They are friends."
Rafael Nadal is a four-time former Davis Cup champion, winning in 2004, 2009, 2011, and 2019.