Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, recently shared a heart-rendering moment of realization when he knew he had to end his illustrious tennis career. The Spanish sports icon had been grappling with injuries for almost two years before he finally decided to retire during the Davis Cup Finals last November.
According to Nadal, the decision to retire had been made several months before his final tournament. He had spent a significant amount of time attempting to make a comeback after a major hip surgery, but had consciously chosen to avoid any retirement ceremonies. However, one particular tournament became the turning point for the Spanish maestro.
Nadal concluded his prestigious career on a sentimental note, playing for his homeland for the last time in the Davis Cup. Though he had spent a year off the court due to injuries, the former world No. 1 remained hopeful and did not entertain talks of retirement even when he faced another setback as soon as he returned to action in early 2024.
The tennis legend disclosed his retirement plans in October, only a few weeks before his final performance for Spain against the Netherlands. Since his retirement, Nadal has given a comprehensive interview on Andy Roddick’s podcast, a platform hosted by his former on-court rival.
Nadal has battled a multitude of career-threatening injuries and surgeries in the past. He was hopeful that things would turn around after his arthroscopic hip operation. While discussing his decision, Nadal stated, “I gave myself time to see if I am able to recover myself the proper way. In terms of tennis, I still felt competitive. I hadn’t lost speed on the ball. I just needed to regain physical confidence and overcome the limitation.”
Despite his efforts, as time passed, Nadal felt that he was not able to perform at the level he desired on the court. He further revealed, “After the Olympics, I came back home and said, ‘Okay, it’s over, I feel it’. Until then, I was giving myself time. But after that, it made no sense anymore. I couldn’t see myself continuing with this problem. I didn’t see myself being competitive at a level that motivates me. So, when I felt that, I knew it was over.”
In the Paris Olympics, Nadal made it to the second round of the singles tournament, marking his 60th and final official showdown with Novak Djokovic. He also advanced to the doubles quarter-finals with Carlos Alcaraz. This was only his seventh tournament for the year 2024.
After months of inactivity, Nadal finally announced his retirement plans in October. Before officially retiring, he participated in the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia, where he lost to Alcaraz and Djokovic. His epic career finally came to a close at the Davis Cup.
