New Delhi: In Life, everything has a beginning and an end! With that in mind, the tennis legend Rafael Nadal decided to call it a day at next month’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has faced significant challenges in recent years, having barely participated in tournaments over the past two seasons due to injuries.
Nadal announced his retirement through a heartfelt video message on Thursday stating, “I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, the last two especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.”
After missing the 2023 French Open, Nadal initially announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2024 season. However, he made a comeback this year, pushing himself to compete but now after a defeat to long-time rival Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics in July, he has decided the time is right to step away.
“It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make”, Rafa said. Adding further, “I’m very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country.”
From Manacor kid to King of Clay
Rafael Nadal’s journey in tennis began at the age of three. He was introduced to the sport by his uncle Toni, who recognized his potential and encouraged him to play left-handed. He turned professional at just 15 and quickly made waves in the sport. From turning professional in 2001 to now finally calling it a day at next month’s Davis Cup Finals, let’s walk down memory lane to explore the 38-year-old Nadal’s most iconic moments in tennis history-
There will never be another Rafael Nadal pic.twitter.com/6zpyU6OKh6
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) October 10, 2024
2004 – Davis Cup triumph and first meeting with Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal played a pivotal role in Spain’s victory in the Davis Cup when he defeated world number two Andy Roddick in the final against the United States. After this, he was already making waves before his third-round match against the world number one Roger Federer at the 2004 Miami Open. Those in attendance had no idea they were witnessing the start of the greatest of rivalries.
Nadal was ranked 34th and gave a shock to the Swiss as he won 6-3 6-3 in 70 minutes ending Federer’s 12-match streak and become the second man to beat Roger that season after Tim Henman. After the match, Swiss admitted he was “impressed” with Nadal’s play.
After that, they both got on meeting 39 times with their head-to-head record ending with 24-16 (14-10 in finals) in Nadal’s favour when Federer retired back in 2022.
2005- First Slam
Tennis didn’t really grasp what had hit it until 2005. Nadal broke Andre Agassi’s record of the most consecutive match wins for a male teenager during the Open era in the spring by demonstrating his dominance on clay courts with 24 straight victories in singles.
Nadal had raised the rankings and became the world’s fifth-ranked player by the time of the French Open, defeating Roger Federer in the Roland Garros semifinals on his 19th birthday. And finally defeated Mariano Puerta of Argentina 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 6-1 7-5 in the championship match winning his maiden major and became the second male teenager to win the French Open on his debut, following Mats Wilander in 1982.
With that win the 38-year-old also became the first adolescent male winner of a Grand Slam singles championship since Pete Sampras.
2008- Peak of dominance
The 2008 marked the epitome of Rafael Nadal’s career. By that time, Nadal had reached the Wimbledon final twice but was defeated by a now five-time champion Roger Federer. However, the Spaniard’s fortunes changed in their third encounter as he arrived at SW19 on the heels of 17 consecutive match victories. Federer was World No.1 for 231 consecutive weeks but got beaten by Nadal in the French Open final with a staggering score of 6-1, 6-3, 6-0, which added to the anticipation of their Wimbledon showdown.
The final began with rain delays marking the last match played on Centre Court before the installation of its iconic roof. Despite the weather, the match delivered an unforgettable spectacle. John McEnroe famously dubbed it the “greatest match ever” as Nadal emerged victorious after a grueling four hours and 48 minutes, winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7. This match became the longest Wimbledon final in history and marked Nadal’s first Grand Slam title outside Paris.
His triumph at Wimbledon and the French Open positioned Nadal as the favorite for gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he was making his debut alongside future rivals Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. With Federer eliminated in the quarter-finals Nadal defeated Djokovic in the semis and faced Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez in the final. He claimed the Olympic Gold medal by a scoreline of 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, rising to the top of the world rankings for the first time and ending Federer’s 237-week reign. He later added Olympic doubles gold to his accolades in 2016 Rio alongside Marc Lopez.
2009- First Australian Open title
Rafael Nadal’s inaugural Australian Open final in 2009 was a significant milestone in his career, marking his eighth appearance in a Grand Slam showdown and his seventh consecutive clash against Roger Federer. To reach this stage he had to battle through a grueling semi-final against Fernando Verdasco which turned into a marathon match lasting five hours and 14 minutes marking one of the longest singles matches in the tournament’s history until Novak Djokovic’s epic victory over Nadal in the 2012 final, which extended to five hours and 53 minutes.
In his first major hard-court final, Nadal displayed remarkable resilience despite the exhausting semi-final. He emerged victorious against Federer with a scoreline of 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-2. This victory not only made him the first Spaniard in both men’s and women’s categories to win the Australian Open but it also marked a historic moment as he became the first man in the Open Era to hold three major titles across three different surfaces at the same time.
The defeat left Federer in tears as Nadal denied him the chance to secure his 14th Grand Slam title which would have tied him with Pete Sampras for the all-time men’s record at the time.
2010- Career Grand Slam
The year 2010 marked Nadal’s entry into the exclusive club of eight men who have claimed the career Grand Slam by winning all four major titles. He didn’t drop a single set in the US Open that year. Even after the rain-interrupted final against Djokovic, he managed to win his first title 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2 at Flushing Meadows and completed his career Grand Slam.
With that, he also became the second male after Agassi to complete a Carrer Gold Slam including Olympic singles gold, and the first man to win all four major titles in the same year and also became the first man after Rod Laver in 1969 to win the Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year.
2017- Comeback triumph
After victory at the 2014 French Open, Nadal faced a challenging three-year stretch marked by injuries and a decline in form he failed to reach a Grand Slam final until the 2017 Australian Open, where he was defeated by Federer.
However, it would be unwise to underestimate him. Following triumphs on the clay courts of Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Madrid, a revitalized Nadal returned to Paris as the favorite for the 2017 title.
In the final, he showcased his dominance by defeating fellow Swiss player Stan Wawrinka with a decisive score of 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. This victory made Nadal the first player in the Open era to win a Grand Slam tournament ten times further solidifying his reputation as the “King of Clay.”
Additionally, this win marked his 15th major title elevating him above Pete Sampras on the all-time list of men’s winners placing him second only to Federer.
2022- 22 Grand Slam Champion
After a challenging end to 2021, marked by a foot injury that jeopardized his career and a severe bout of Covid-19 that left him “very sick”, Nadal approached the 2022 Australian Open having played just one tournament since the previous August. The absence of deported Novak Djokovic and injured Roger Federer created an opportunity for Nadal to shine.
He seized it, capturing his second Australian Open title 13 years after his first after defeating Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-hour and 24-minute final. The match concluded at 1:11 AM local time ending with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
This victory was significant as it marked Nadal’s 21st Grand Slam title setting a new men’s record and putting him ahead of Djokovic and Federer at the time. A visibly emotional Nadal described it as “one of the most emotional wins of my career.”
Just four months later, Nadal added to his legacy another Slam at the French Open, aiming to reclaim his title after falling in the semifinals of the previous year. He achieved this by defeating Norway’s Casper Ruud with a dominant scoreline of 6-3, 6-3, 6-0, securing his record-extending 14th title in Paris. Remarkably, this victory came just two days after his 36th birthday, making him the oldest men’s singles champion at Roland Garros. With 22 Grand Slam titles, he moved ahead of his rivals Djokovic and Federer before Djokovic added three in 2023.
2022- One last dance of Grand rivalry
In September 2022, Roger Federer announced that he would retire following the Laver Cup a tournament where he would team up with his longtime rivals and friends including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Casper Ruud, and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas. The event set the stage for a poignant farewell as it was perhaps fitting that Federer’s final match would be a doubles contest alongside Nadal who had been both his fiercest competitor and a close friend.
The duo, affectionately known as ‘Fedal,’ came close to winning their match against the American team of Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe. They even had a match point in hand but ultimately fell short as Team World secured the victory. This moment marked a bittersweet conclusion to their incredible journey in tennis, highlighting the strong bond that had developed between them over the years.
As Federer bid farewell to the sport Nadal struggled to hold his emotions back. He recognized that this moment symbolized the beginning of the end of an era that had been defined by their fierce rivalry. With Djokovic now the only active member of the famed ‘Big Three,’ the significance of the moment was not lost on either player.
Reflecting on their friendship, Nadal stated, “I’m even happier to finish our career like friends after everything we shared on the court like rivals.” This sentiment encapsulated the deep respect and camaraderie that developed through their on-court battles. Federer also said “What a career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come” when he retired from the game.
Celebrating Rafael Nadal’s unforgettable tennis legacy, from his iconic victories to his heartfelt retirement as he prepares to call it a day next month. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
