Rafael Nadal announces retirement as Spaniard releases emotional statement

Rafael Nadal has confirmed that he will be retiring from tennis next month.

The Spaniard will play his final competitive match at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, bringing the curtain down on his sensational career in his homeland.

Nadal has endured a frustrating few months due to injury and has not played a competitive match since representing Spain at the Olympics, where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the singles event and struggled alongside Carlos Alcaraz when playing doubles.

Nadal wrote his name into tennis’ history books by winning 22 Grand Slams to assert himself as one of the best players to ever grace the court.

After turning professional aged 14 in 2001, Nadal went on to win a record 14 French Open titles, as well as the US Open on four occasions and Wimbledon and the Australian Open twice.

He was also victorious at the Olympics, winning a gold medal in the men’s singles event in Beijing in 2008 and doubles at the 2016 Rio Games. Nadal helped Spain to four Davis Cup titles as well, so bowing out in Malaga appears a fitting end to the 38-year-old’s career.

In a video shared on social media, the 38-year-old said: “Hello everyone. I'm here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially I don't think I've 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 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. I think I've come full circle since one of my great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Sevilla in 2004. I feel super, super lucky for all the things I've been able to experience.

“I want to thank the entire tennis industry. All the people involved in this sport, my long-term colleagues, especially my great rivals, I have spent many, many hours with them, and I have lived many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.”