Rafael Nadal , the king of clay, who has helped write some of the most memorable pages in the history of tennis since 2001, announced on Thursday that he would retire from the sport in November, with a phenomenal record of achievements, including 22 Grand Slams.

“I think the time has come to end my career, which has been long and much more successful than I could have imagined,” the 38-year-old Majorcan said in a video posted on his X account.

Having been let down by his body for the last two seasons, the Spaniard has nevertheless specified that he will play one last competition, the final phase of the Davis Cup scheduled for Malaga (November 19 to 24), 20 years after the one won in Seville, a way of “coming full circle”, he said.

Djokovic-Federer-Nadal: of the immense trio that reigned over world tennis for two decades, he is the second to draw the curtain.

Federer, Mbappe, Real
“What a career, Rafa!” exclaimed Roger Federer, his friend and fiercest opponent on the court, who hung up his boots in September 2022, on Instagram. “Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your achievements in the game we love. It was an absolute honor.”
His young compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, world number 2, thanked him “for being an example at all levels”. “Your legacy is unrivaled!”

“He is an incredible person. He showed us how to behave on the court […]. He also taught us to stay humble, not to change with success,” added Jannik Sinner, current world number 1.

Tributes have poured in, and not just from the world of tennis: Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid – of which Nadal is a fan – Alberto Contador, among others, have sent him warm messages.

“Rafa’s” last match was at the Paris Olympics, on his Roland-Garros clay court, where he wrote the greatest pages of his history. Far from his best physical level, he exploded in the second round against Djokovic 6-1, 6-4.