Rafael Nadal officially retired from professional tennis on November 19, 2024, after competing in the Davis Cup Finals in Málaga, Spain.
This event marked the conclusion of his illustrious career, which spanned over two decades and included numerous records and achievements. Nadal had previously announced that the Davis Cup would be his final tournament, reflecting on his journey and expressing a desire to be remembered for both his athletic accomplishments and personal qualities.
He concluded his career with an impressive tally of 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Open victories. His final match resulted in a loss to Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands, ending Spain’s run in the tournament and thus his professional journey.
Tennis legend Roger Federer has shared an emotional tribute to his long-time rival and close friend. In a post shared on Instagram on Tuesday, November 19, Federer reflected on their storied rivalry and celebrated Nadal’s immense contributions to the sport of tennis.
Federer, who retired in 2022, expressed his admiration for Nadal’s exceptional career and the challenges he presented on the court. “Vamos, Rafa! As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional,” Federer wrote, acknowledging the physical and emotional impact Nadal’s departure will have on the sport.
Nadal’s Career Timeline:
Rafael Nadal, 38, enjoyed a remarkable career spanning over two decades, collecting 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Open titles on his beloved clay courts. Over his career, he accumulated a total of 92 singles titles and became a dominant force in tennis, reaching No. 1 in the ATP rankings and holding the longest consecutive span in the top 10 in history—nearly 18 years—until his recent injury struggles.
2024:
Nadal made one last attempt at the French Open but faced early elimination, losing in the first round to eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev. He also competed at the Paris Olympics, where he was ousted by Novak Djokovic in the second round of singles and later exited the doubles tournament with Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. On October 10, Nadal announced his final professional appearance would be at the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain. He lost his last match 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands.
2023:
Nadal’s 2023 season was marred by injury. He lost in the second round of the Australian Open to Mackie McDonald while battling a left hip flexor injury, marking his earliest Grand Slam exit in seven years. He did not compete for the rest of the year, opting for surgery on his hip in June to address the ongoing issues.
2022:
In 2022, Nadal made history by claiming his 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, where he made a stunning comeback to defeat Daniil Medvedev after dropping the first two sets. Later in the year, he earned his 22nd major at the French Open, overcoming debilitating pain in his left foot to win his 14th Roland Garros title. However, he pulled out of Wimbledon due to a torn abdominal muscle and was eliminated in the fourth round of the U.S. Open by Frances Tiafoe.
2021:
In 2021, Nadal struggled with chronic pain in his left foot, limiting his participation in tournaments. He lost in the Australian Open quarterfinals to Stefanos Tsitsipas after leading by two sets and was ousted by Novak Djokovic in the French Open semifinals. Nadal played only two more matches the rest of the year due to his foot injury.
2020:
Nadal matched Roger Federer’s 20 Grand Slam titles in 2020, claiming his 13th French Open title with a victory over Novak Djokovic in the final. He also won multiple titles for the 16th consecutive year, solidifying his place among tennis’ all-time greats.
2019:
Nadal returned to the No. 1 ranking at the age of 33 after capturing the French Open for a 12th time and the U.S. Open for a fourth. Despite struggles with injury, including issues with his thigh, knee, and abdomen, he continued to perform at the highest level.
2018:
Nadal won an 11th French Open title in 2018 but was sidelined by injuries to his knee, hip, and abdomen. He had to withdraw from several tournaments and missed others, continuing to deal with chronic issues throughout the year.
2017:
Nadal enjoyed a stellar 2017, reclaiming his dominance with victories at the French Open (his 10th title there) and the U.S. Open, marking his 16th Grand Slam title. He finished the year ranked No. 1 for the fourth time in his career.
2016:
Nadal struggled with injuries in 2016, missing several tournaments and failing to reach any Grand Slam quarterfinals for the first time since 2004. He withdrew from the French Open due to a left wrist injury and was out of action for several months.
2015:
Nadal’s streak of winning at least one Grand Slam title each year ended in 2015. He lost in the quarterfinals of the French Open to Novak Djokovic and failed to reach the quarterfinals in the other three majors.
2014:
In 2014, Nadal reached his 14th Grand Slam title, equaling Pete Sampras’ record, by winning his ninth French Open title. However, he struggled with injuries and sat out three months after missing Wimbledon due to a wrist injury.
2013:
After seven months off due to knee surgery, Nadal made a remarkable comeback in 2013, winning two Grand Slam titles: the French Open (for an eighth time) and the U.S. Open (for a second). He finished the year ranked No. 1.
2012:
Nadal won his seventh French Open title in 2012, but his season was marred by a left knee injury that caused him to miss much of the latter half of the year, including a disappointing early Wimbledon exit.
2011:
Nadal won his sixth French Open title in 2011, equaling Björn Borg’s record. He had an intense rivalry with Novak Djokovic that year, losing seven of their 10 finals, including in Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
2010:
Nadal completed his career Grand Slam in 2010 by winning the U.S. Open and finished the year ranked No. 1 after securing titles at the French Open and Wimbledon.
2009:
Nadal won his first Australian Open title in 2009, but his French Open winning streak was broken by Robin Soderling. Nadal struggled with knee tendinitis and missed Wimbledon that year.
2008:
In 2008, Nadal captured his fourth consecutive French Open title and defeated Roger Federer in a thrilling five-set Wimbledon final. He also won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing and ended the year ranked No. 1.
2007:
Nadal continued his dominance at the French Open, winning his third straight title. However, his 81-match winning streak on clay was broken by Federer in Hamburg. Nadal also lost in the Wimbledon final to Federer.
2006:
In 2006, Nadal claimed his second French Open title, defeating Federer in the final, and extended his clay-court winning streak to a record 62 matches.
2005:
Nadal made his breakthrough in 2005 by winning his first French Open title in his debut appearance. He finished the year with 11 titles, the most by a teenager in ATP history, and moved into the top 10, where he remained for most of his career.
2004:
At just 17, Nadal helped Spain win the Davis Cup, defeated Federer for the first time, and won his first ATP title in Sopot, Poland.
2003:
Nadal made his Wimbledon debut at 17, reaching the third round and becoming the youngest player to do so since Boris Becker in 1984.
2002:
Nadal made his professional debut in 2002, winning his first ATP match in his hometown of Mallorca at just 15 years old.
