(FILES) Spain’s Rafael Nadal waves as he leaves after his campaign in the Paris Olympics. –Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP

Rafael Nadal announced his impending retirement from tennis on Thursday at age 38 after winning 22 Grand Slam singles titles during an unprecedented era he shared with his rivals in the so-called Big Three, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Nadal said he will retire after next month’s Davis Cup finals.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true,” Nadal said in an announcement on social media. “I leave with the absolute peace of mind of having given my best, of having made an effort in every way”

FEATURED STORIES SPORTS PBA Finals: TNT carries extra weapons into duel vs Ginebra SPORTS 2024 PBA Finals schedule: Barangay Ginebra vs TNT Tropang Giga SPORTS Tim Cone, Ginebra locked in on getting back at TNT for PBA title

READ: Rafael Nadal still aiming to finish career in 2024

The Spaniard indicated his decision was related to persistent injury problems.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end,” Nadal said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Nadal’s unrelenting, physical style of play — every point pursued as though it were his last, sprinting and sliding into place for that high-bouncing bullwhip of a lefty forehand — made him one of the greats of the game and the unquestioned King of Clay, the slow, red surface on which he claimed his record 14 French Open championships.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Rafael Nadal plagued by injury woes in record-breaking career

That’s more than anyone, man or woman, won at any one of the sport’s four major tournaments, a dominance celebrated by a statue of Nadal that stands near the main entrance to the grounds of Roland Garros and in the shadow of its main stadium, Court Philippe Chatrier.

Article continues after this advertisement

Nadal also won four trophies at the U.S. Open and two apiece at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, giving him a career Grand Slam. His last pair arrived in 2022, at Melbourne in January and at Paris in June, pushing him ahead of Federer for the men’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles. Federer announced his retirement when he was 41 the end of the 2022 season, shortly before bidding adieu by teaming with Nadal in a doubles match at the Laver Cup.

Both have since been surpassed by Djokovic, who is up to 24.

FILE – Spain’s Rafael Nadal lifts the trophy after winning the final match against Norway’s Casper Ruud in three sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Sunday, June 5, 2022, as he has announced he will retire from tennis at age 38 following the Davis Cup finals in November. (. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

“I want to thank the entire tennis industry, all the people involved in this sport, my long-time colleagues, especially my great rivals,” Nadal said over images of him playing against Federer and Djokovic. “I have spent many hours with them and I have lived many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

So much of Nadal’s success was seen, fairly or not, through the prism of his encounters with Federer and Djokovic. The tennis world, and plenty outside of it, were consumed with the debate over which was most deserving of the “GOAT” — “Greatest Of All-Time” — moniker.

READ: Rafael Nadal defeated in likely French Open farewell

The world, tennis or otherwise, was fascinated by their matchups, their differing styles and personalities. Who among those who witnessed it could possibly forget Nadal vs. Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final? Or Nadal vs. Djokovic in the 2022 French Open quarterfinals? Or Nadal vs. Djokovic in the 2012 Australian Open final? And so on.

Nadal added Thursday that he was excited to finish his career at the Davis Cup, which will be played in Malaga, Spain.

“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country,” he said. “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 Seville in 2004.”

Nadal has not played since the Paris Olympics, where he lost to old rival Djokovic in the second round of the singles tournament and reached the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

“I think it is the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imaginedotso,” he said.

READ NEXT UAAP: Adamson hopes to pull off ‘UE-like’ run in s... Ex-F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo courted by Australian Supercars ... EDITORS' PICK Tolentino cites importance of having provincial evacuation centers West PH Sea: Indonesia drives out China coast guard ship from disputed waters Severe Tropical Storm Kristine maintains strength off Pangasinan Inquirer calls for support for the victims of Tropical Storm Kristine Marikina River under second alarm ‘Bar Boys’ musical is extending its run. Here’s why you *must* see it MOST READ West PH Sea: Indonesia drives out China coast guard ship from disputed waters LIVE UPDATES: Severe Tropical Storm Kristine LPA outside PAR may become tropical depression Friday – Pagasa Storm Kristine update: Signal No. 2 in Metro Manila, 23 Luzon areas View comments

• Rafael
• Nadal
• will
• otso
• Retire