Rafael Nadal Announces His Retirement from Tennis in Emotional Video: 'A Difficult Decision'

Mar. 15, 2025

Rafael Nadal in April 2024.Photo:Jean Catuffe/Getty

Jean Catuffe/Getty

Four-time US Open champion Rafael Nadal announced his retirement in an emotional video posted to X on Thursday, Oct. 10Nadal described it as a “difficult decision and one that has taken me some time to make"The tennis star won 22 Grand Slam titles, including the French Open 1 4 times, most recently in 2022Rafael Nadalhas announced his retirement from tennis.In an emotionalvideo posted on X(formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday, Oct. 10, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, 38, confirmed he’s hanging up his racket and that his last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain in November.“The reality is that it has been some difficult years, especially these last two,” he began in the video, which had English subtitles. “I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision and one that has taken me some time to make. But, in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it’s an appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”The sports star went on to note how special the Davis Cup is to him and how he sees it as a fitting way to see out his career. “I think I’ve come full circle since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Sevilla in 2004,” he said as footage flashed up on the screen of Spain taking the title.“I feel super, super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience,” Nadal continued, before going on to thank the entire tennis industry and his “great rivals,” notablyRoger FedererandNovak Djokovic.“I have lived many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life,” he added.Nadal then thanked his team — something he said is “a little bit more difficult for me” — and his family, who he described as “everything to me.”Rafael Nadal at the French Open in 2005.Clive Mason/GettyThe PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!As well as thanking his mother Ana, father Sebastián, sister Maribel and uncle Toni, the athlete paid tribute to his wife,Mery “Xisxa” Perelló, and their2-year-old son.“Mery, we have been together for 19 years. Thank you for everything you have done. I think you’ve been the perfect travel companion during all these years of my career,” he said. “To come home and see how my son is growing every day has been a force that has really kept me alive and with the necessary energy to continue.”Rafael Nadal’s wife Mery “Xisxa” Perelló and their son.Pierre Suu/WireImageThe screen then switched to footage of his son running across a tennis court with a racket in hand and watching from the sidelines with his mom.The video, which included various highlights of his career, concluded with Nadal thanking his fans. “I can’t thank you enough for what you have made me feel. You have given me the energy I have needed at every moment,” he said, adding, “Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true.”Nadal’s announcement comes after hedropped outof the 2024U.S. Openin August, saying he believed he wouldn’t have been “able to give [his] 100% this time.” The tennis star previously won the tournament in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019.Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.Victoria Jones/PA Images via GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The tournament followed the2024 Paris Olympics, which saw Nadal and doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz knocked out in the quarterfinals on July 31.Nadal secured his first Grand Slam as a teenager, winning the French Open in 2005 just two days after he turned 19. He went on to win the tournament another 13 times, most recently in 2022.The Spanish star also won Wimbledon twice, in 2008 and 2010, and the Australian Open twice.

Rafael Nadalhas announced his retirement from tennis.

In an emotionalvideo posted on X(formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday, Oct. 10, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, 38, confirmed he’s hanging up his racket and that his last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain in November.

“The reality is that it has been some difficult years, especially these last two,” he began in the video, which had English subtitles. “I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision and one that has taken me some time to make. But, in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it’s an appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”

The sports star went on to note how special the Davis Cup is to him and how he sees it as a fitting way to see out his career. “I think I’ve come full circle since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Sevilla in 2004,” he said as footage flashed up on the screen of Spain taking the title.

“I feel super, super lucky for all the things I’ve been able to experience,” Nadal continued, before going on to thank the entire tennis industry and his “great rivals,” notablyRoger FedererandNovak Djokovic.

“I have lived many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life,” he added.

Nadal then thanked his team — something he said is “a little bit more difficult for me” — and his family, who he described as “everything to me.”

Rafael Nadal at the French Open in 2005.Clive Mason/Getty

Clive Mason/Getty

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

As well as thanking his mother Ana, father Sebastián, sister Maribel and uncle Toni, the athlete paid tribute to his wife,Mery “Xisxa” Perelló, and their2-year-old son.

“Mery, we have been together for 19 years. Thank you for everything you have done. I think you’ve been the perfect travel companion during all these years of my career,” he said. “To come home and see how my son is growing every day has been a force that has really kept me alive and with the necessary energy to continue.”

Rafael Nadal’s wife Mery “Xisxa” Perelló and their son.Pierre Suu/WireImage

Pierre Suu/WireImage

The screen then switched to footage of his son running across a tennis court with a racket in hand and watching from the sidelines with his mom.

The video, which included various highlights of his career, concluded with Nadal thanking his fans. “I can’t thank you enough for what you have made me feel. You have given me the energy I have needed at every moment,” he said, adding, “Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true.”

Nadal’s announcement comes after hedropped outof the 2024U.S. Openin August, saying he believed he wouldn’t have been “able to give [his] 100% this time.” The tennis star previously won the tournament in 2010, 2013, 2017 and 2019.

Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The tournament followed the2024 Paris Olympics, which saw Nadal and doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz knocked out in the quarterfinals on July 31.

Nadal secured his first Grand Slam as a teenager, winning the French Open in 2005 just two days after he turned 19. He went on to win the tournament another 13 times, most recently in 2022.

The Spanish star also won Wimbledon twice, in 2008 and 2010, and the Australian Open twice.

source: people.com