Tennis Superstar Novak Djokovic Reacts to Rafael Nadal’s Stunning Retirement

Spanish men’s tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, one of the winningest players in the history of the sport, will be calling it a career after next month’s Davis Cup. Nadal will suit up alongside countryman Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest men’s player to win four championships and Nadal’s heir apparent, in playing for their homeland during the tournament. The Davis Cup final is scheduled for Nov. 24.

Nadal very recently held the record for most Grand Slam singles titles in the history of the Open Era with 22. He has since been surpassed by Novak Djokovic’s 24. Long known as the “King of Clay” for his ferocity on clay courts, Nadal’s major title tally includes what should be a long-standing record of 14 French Open championships.

The former world No. 1 also has four U.S. Open titles, plus two Wimbledon and Australian Open titles apiece. He is thus one of just four men’s tennis players to complete the “career slam” (winning all four majors) twice. All told, the 6-foot-1 native of Mallorca, Spain has won 92 total singles titles, fifth-most in the Open Era, along with 11 doubles titles.

Nadal has won two Olympic gold medals — the 2008 men’s singles title and the 2016 men’s doubles championship. Nadal’s $134,946,000 in career earnings rank as the second-best in men’s tennis history, behind only Djokovic.

The 38-year-old took to his various social media platforms on Thursday to officially announce that his next tournament will indeed be his last. He has dealt with major injuries throughout his career, thanks to the wear and tear his explosive style puts on his lower body, but the last two years have marked significant signs of decline.

“Hello everyone. I’m here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis,” Nadal announced on Thursday. “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 some time for me to make. But, in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it’s the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined. But, I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country.”

After various ailments wrecked a lot of his availability for the last two seasons, Nadal had a nice little swan song run over the summer, qualifying for the ATP 250 Nordea Open final in Bastad, Sweden. He would go on to lose to Nuno Borges in straight sets.

Rafael Nadal Advances to First ATP Singles Final in 2 Years at Nordea Open

Health issues have conspired to keep him shelved since this summer’s 2024 Paris Olympics.

Djokovic, who along with 20-time Grand Slam champ Roger Federer was one of Nadal’s fiercest rivals during their collective primes, took to X to pay his respects.

“Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport,” Djokovic wrote in part. “Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever. Only you know what you had to endure to become [an] icon of tennis and sport in general.”

“Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry that has impacted me the most as a player,” Djokovic continued. “I wish you [the] best possible farewell in Malaga with [the] Davis Cup team of Spain. I will be there in person to pay respect to your stellar career.”

Federer, who set the template with tear-inducing farewell social media video posts two years ago, has yet to comment on the retirement of his longtime on-court nemesis and off-court friend.

With Nadal, Federer, and Andy Murray all retiring, only Djokovic is left standing from what had been a dominant “Big Four” in men’s tennis for decades. Nadal’s legacy as one of the all-time legends of the game is secure.

Saludo, Rafa.

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