Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, announced his retirement at age 38, ending a dominant career on the clay courts. With 22 Grand Slam titles, he is second on the all-time men’s list behind Novak Djokovic. Nadal cited injuries as a reason for his retirement, saying the last two years have been especially difficult. Known for his success at the French Open, where he won 14 titles between 2005 and 2022, Nadal has amassed almost $135 million in prize money.
His rivalry with Roger Federer was a highlight of his career, with their epic matches, including the 2008 Wimbledon final, being some of the best in tennis history. Despite being left-handed on the court, Nadal is right-handed in other activities like writing. Nadal’s final tournament will be the Davis Cup in November, where he will represent Spain alongside rising star Carlos Alcaraz.
Nadal expressed gratitude to his wife of 19 years, Maria Perello, and his son for their support, as well as to his fans for their unwavering energy throughout his career. His retirement marks the end of an era in tennis, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
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