Rafael Nadal has formally retired! The 22-time Main winner added his identify to the record of retired gamers on the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) website. Thus, he terminated his tennis journey with out the intention of constructing a comeback.
Rafa ended his tennis journey after 23 years on the skilled circuit, taking part in his final match on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. The Spaniard reached unimaginable heights between 2005 and 2022, claiming 22 Main titles and 36 Masters 1000 crowns.
Nadal claimed the 2022 Roland Garros title, trying good to develop into world no. 1 within the second half of the 12 months. Nevertheless, the whole lot went improper for the legend at Wimbledon. He by no means discovered his A-game once more and retired two years later.
Rafael Nadal, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
After practising and taking part in tennis for almost 35 years, Rafa can now deal with his household and issues he likes to do outdoors the court docket. He not too long ago entered a golf occasion and watched Actual Madrid towards Liverpool within the UEFA Champions League conflict.
Additionally, the legend does not should take into consideration rigorous observe schedules and grueling journey itineraries anymore. For the primary time, Nadal can spend uninterrupted time along with his household and revel in easy pleasures of life on his stunning island.
🥹🔥🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal’s 2024 ATP highlights pic.twitter.com/rWFu5hxJtA
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) November 22, 2024 Nadal’s last two years
As we already mentioned, Rafa struggled within the second half of 2022, coping with an belly damage and shedding momentum. He made a sluggish begin to the 2023 season and skilled a extreme hip damage on the Australian Open. The legend underwent surgical procedure and missed the remainder of the 12 months.
Regardless of probably the most prolonged break of his profession, the 37-year-old needed to terminate his profession on his phrases! Nadal returned to motion in Brisbane at the start of 2024. He defeated two rivals and reached the quarter-final earlier than experiencing one other blow.
Rafael Nadal© Stream screenshot
The veteran squandered three match factors towards Jordan Thompson and fell after three and a half hours. He felt ache round his troubled hip once more and missed the Australian Open. The Spaniard returned residence and skilled in February, hoping to play in Doha.
Nevertheless, he injured his belly muscle groups and missed all of the motion till Barcelona. The king of clay couldn’t ship his greatest tennis on his beloved floor, which is the primary motive he determined to retire. Rafa scored one win in Barcelona and three in Madrid.
He suffered a heavy loss on the Rome Masters and drew Alexander Zverev within the first spherical of Roland Garros. The 14-time champion gave the whole lot in a 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 loss after three hours and 5 minutes, experiencing his earliest Roland Garros exit.
Rafael Nadal, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
As was anticipated, Nadal skipped the grass season and stayed on clay, making ready for his last Olympic Video games. The Spaniard entered Bastad, returning to the ATP 250 occasion after 19 years. He stopped the clock and beat 4 rivals for his first ATP last in over two years.
Rafa handed a few difficult obstacles and misplaced steam forward of the title conflict, taking 5 video games towards Nuno Borges and ending runner-up. Nadal injured his proper thigh and returned to Paris with low expectations. Rafa defeated Marton Fucsovics within the first spherical.
He organized the sixtieth duel with Novak Djokovic in spherical two and skilled a 6-1, 6-4 defeat. Novak took cost towards his best rival and solid a 6-1, 4-0 benefit. Rafa made a powerful comeback, pulling two breaks again and locking the outcome at 4-4.
Nonetheless, Djokovic delivered one other break within the ninth recreation and sealed the deal on his serve within the subsequent one, crashing the rival’s medal goals.
Botic van de Zandschulp & Rafael Nadal, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Rafa’s last profession match
Nadal missed the US Open and the Laver Cup. He introduced his retirement in October, gathering quite a few feedback from his rivals and followers. Rafa picked the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga as his final occasion, working exhausting on the observe court docket and shaping up his type.
Twenty years after debuting for Spain, Rafa confronted Botic van de Zandschulp within the quarter-final. The Dutchman defeated the legend 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 52 minutes, sending him into well-deserved retirement. The house favourite misplaced serve 3 times.
Highlights de la VUELTA DE RAFA NADAL 🇪🇦 en Brisbane un año después 🎾
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/vPnAhMIqMa
— Amante Olímpico (@Tokio20206) January 2, 2024
He responded with one break within the second set whereas already standing behind. He failed to increase the battle and his profession, struggling a second Davis Cup singles loss. They stayed neck and neck within the opening eight video games, locking the outcome at 4-4.
Van de Zandschulp closed that eighth recreation with a smash winner and made a push on the return within the subsequent one. He generated a break likelihood and landed a backhand crosscourt winner for a 5-4 benefit. Botic closed the opener with a service winner in recreation ten, shifting 6-4 up after 46 minutes.
Nadal suffered one other blow at the start of the second set. He missed a recreation level and sprayed a forehand error on a break level to fall a set and a break behind. Botic held in recreation two for 2-0 and reached deuces on the return within the subsequent one.
Nadal survived them and held, remaining inside one break deficit. Van de Zandschulp closed the fourth recreation with a service winner for 3-1 and made one other push on the return within the subsequent one. He cracked a forehand crosscourt winner on the second break level and solid a 4-1 benefit.
Rafael Nadal, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Rafa stepped in on the return within the sixth recreation, defending the rival’s recreation level and creating three break probabilities. The house favourite transformed the final after the rival’s slice error, lowering the hole to 2-4. Nadal saved a break level within the seventh recreation with a smash winner and landed a service winner for 3-4.
In search of an entire comeback, the Spaniard claimed the opening two factors of the eighth recreation. Nevertheless, the Dutchman fired up his serve and clinched 4 straight factors for a pivotal maintain and a 5-3 lead. Rafa served to remain within the match in recreation 9 and introduced it residence with three highly effective serves.
The legend wished for an additional push on the return at 4-5, particularly at 30-30. Nonetheless, Botic landed a service winner for a match level and drew Rafa’s mistake, sealing the deal and sending the 22-time Main champion into retirement.
