Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announced his upcoming retirement from the sport on Thursday at the age of 38, concluding a remarkable career that included 22 Grand Slam singles titles during a historic era alongside his rivals, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, collectively known as the Big Three.

Nadal confirmed that he will step away from professional tennis following next month’s Davis Cup finals, which are set to take place in Malaga, Spain.

“Truly, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true,” Nadal shared in a social media announcement. “I depart with complete peace of mind, knowing I have given my all and made every effort possible.”

The Spanish athlete attributed his decision to ongoing injury challenges.

“The reality is that the past few years have been tough, especially the last two. I don’t believe I have been able to compete without limitations. This has been a difficult choice, one that required considerable reflection. However, everything in life has a beginning and an end,” Nadal stated.

Nadal’s relentless and physical approach to the game—chasing every point as if it were his last, sprinting and sliding to execute his powerful left-handed forehand—established him as one of the sport's all-time greats and the undisputed King of Clay, where he secured a record 14 French Open titles.

This achievement surpasses any other player, male or female, at any of the sport's four major tournaments, a dominance commemorated by a statue of Nadal located near the main entrance of Roland Garros, adjacent to the iconic Court Philippe Chatrier.

“14 thanks for the millions of memories,” was the message posted by Roland Garros.

Nadal has secured four titles at the U.S. Open and two each at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, achieving a career Grand Slam. His most recent victories came in 2022, with wins in Melbourne in January and in Paris in June, allowing him to surpass Federer for the men's record of 20 Grand Slam titles. Federer, who retired at the age of 41 at the conclusion of the 2022 season, made his farewell appearance by partnering with Nadal in a doubles match at the Laver Cup.

Both have now been eclipsed by Djokovic, who has reached 24 titles.

“I want to express my gratitude to the entire tennis community, everyone involved in this sport, my long-time colleagues, and especially my esteemed rivals,” Nadal remarked while images of his matches against Federer and Djokovic were displayed. “I have shared countless hours with them and created memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.”

Much of Nadal’s achievements were viewed, rightly or wrongly, through the lens of his battles with Federer and Djokovic. The tennis community, along with many others, was engrossed in the discussion about who truly deserved the title of “GOAT” — “Greatest Of All-Time.”

The world, both within and beyond tennis, was captivated by their encounters, their contrasting styles, and their unique personalities. Who could forget the iconic match between Nadal and Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final? Or the thrilling clash between Nadal and Djokovic in the 2022 French Open quarterfinals? Or their epic showdown in the 2012 Australian Open final? The list goes on.

Nadal expressed his enthusiasm on Thursday about concluding his career at the Davis Cup, which is set to take place in Malaga, Spain.

“I am thrilled that my final tournament will be the Davis Cup final, where I will represent my country,” he stated. “Reflecting on my journey, one of my earliest significant achievements as a professional was participating in the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004.”

Since the Paris Olympics, where he faced his longtime rival Djokovic in the second round of singles and reached the quarterfinals in men’s doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal has not competed.

“I believe it is the right moment to conclude a career that has been lengthy and far more successful than I ever anticipated,” Nadal remarked.

Throughout his career, Nadal has faced Djokovic 60 times, with Djokovic holding a slight edge at 31-29 overall, while Nadal leads their encounters in Grand Slam finals 5-4.

In his rivalry with Federer, Nadal has played 40 matches, leading 24-16 overall, including a 6-3 record in Grand Slam finals.

Over the years, Nadal has consistently battled and often triumphed over various injuries, with both his 2023 and 2024 seasons significantly impacted by hip and abdominal issues.

He sustained a hip flexor injury during a second-round defeat at the Australian Open in January 2023, which led to him missing the remainder of the year and undergoing surgery in June. After a brief return in January for a preparatory event ahead of the Australian Open, he had to withdraw from the tournament due to a torn hip muscle, subsequently remaining sidelined until he returned to the clay courts at the Barcelona Open in April.

In May 2023, during a press conference at his tennis academy in Manacor, Spain, Nadal announced that he would miss the previous year's trip to Roland Garros for the first time since his debut there in 2005, where he famously won the tournament as a teenager.