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Rafael Nadal ended his professional career at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga last November. The 22-time Major winner decided to terminate his tennis journey following numerous injuries and setbacks that ruined the last two and a half years of his career.
Rafa has not picked up a racquet since he retired, focusing on his family and commitments outside tennis. The former world no. 1 plays tennis with his son at home, and it remains his only direct connection to the sport he loves so much.
Nadal claimed the opening two Majors in 2022, distancing himself away from Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Rafa looked good to become world no. 1 at 36 in the second part of the year, especially after reaching the Wimbledon semi-final.
However, the veteran experienced an abdominal injury in London andwithdrewahead of the Nick Kyrgios clash. The Spaniard could not regain his form by the end of the season andfinishedsecondbehind Carlos Alcaraz.
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Nadal suffered a massive blow at the 2023 Australian Open. He injured his left hip against Mackenzie McDonald and underwent surgery four months later. Thus, Rafa missed the rest of the season and embraced the most extended break of his career.
Wishing to end his career on his terms, the legend worked hard in the second part of the year and made a return in Brisbane at the beginning of 2024. Despite a couple of good runs and an ATP final in Bastad, Nadal could not revive his old magic.
The veteran fell to Alexander Zverev in the first round at Roland Garros and lost to Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Paris Olympics. The Spaniard missed the US Open and announced his retirement in October.
Rafa picked the Davis Cup Finals as the last event of his career. Competing for Spain two decades after debuting in the national jersey, the 22-time Major winner lost to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets. Thus, he terminated his incredible tennis journey and walked away into a well-deserved retirement.
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"I have not picked up a racket since my farewell in Malaga. I will at some point, but I'm only playing with my son at home for now. I'm trying to organize myself outside of the sporting life. I already have a lot of work commitments that I can not avoid.
I also need time to decide what my next projects would look like," Rafael Nadal said.
