Why Did Rafael Nadal Retire From Tennis?

Rafael Nadal announced his retirement from tennis on Thursday, 10 October. His time in the sport will be over after the Davis Cup final. That tournament’s final eight event will take place from 19-24 November.

Nadal previously remained coy on when, exactly, he would retire from tennis, although he admitted to knowing his powers are on the wane.

In an interview with El Hormiguero, Nadal had said that playing at Roland Garros one more time in 2025 was “an option”. Now, however, he has put paid to that potential plan. 

Rafael Nadal spoke about his retirement

Nadal had specifically requested that reporters stop repeatedly questioning him on when he will retire, as he wanted to keep his confidence high and enjoy the sport of tennis for as long as he could.

"It's an option [to play again at Roland Garros], right now the goals are over and I'm giving myself time. I'm enjoying training and other things in life," Nadal said in an interview with El Hormiguero in September 2024.

"I understand that I'm retiring. It's been a long time, I've had a lot of physical problems and the question is normal.

"There comes a time when I can't live with [the idea of] retirement, because otherwise you don't finish trying. I've given myself some time to enjoy tennis after a year and a half off the court and that's what I'm doing, enjoying the day to day.

"In the end, I'm giving myself time and making my decision when I'm clear about it. I try to do things as well as possible. I ask that they don't bring up my retirement in every press conference because otherwise I end up believing that I'm going to retire."

Why did Rafael Nadal retire from tennis? 

Nadal turned 38 years old on 3 June 2024, during Roland Garros – a tournament from which he had already been eliminated in the first round by Alexander Zverev.

As Nadal himself admitted, it is normal for a player in his late thirties to be thinking about retirement – or, at least, to be asked about it.

However, Nadal in particular has been plagued by injury issues throughout his career – making his tally of 22 grand slam titles even more impressive.

In 2003, Nadal had an elbow injury which forced him to postpone his French Open debut. The following year, he suffered a stress fracture.

He suffered a foot injury in late 2005 that carried over into early 2006, causing him to miss the Paris Masters, ATP Finals and Australian Open. The effects of this one may have followed him throughout his career.

At the 2007 Cincinnati Masters, he withdrew from a match against Juan Monaco with dizziness and forearm cramp.

He struggled with his knees in 2008 and 2009 and missed Wimbledon 2009 with tendonitis, rendering him unable to defend his title which he had won for the first time the previous year.

He also missed the chance to defend his 2008 Olympic gold medal at London 2012 with tendonitis and a patella tear kept him out of the US Open at the end of that year.

His nightmare 2012 continued and carried over to the next year. In December 2012, it was announced that Nadal would miss the 2013 Australian Open with a stomach virus.

Nadal’s injury troubles would continue thereafter. In 2014, he battled through a back injury in the Australian Open final – eventually succumbing to Stanislas Wawrinka in four sets.

He also suffered recurring problems with his wrist around this time.

An injury to his left foot kept him out of the 2021 US Open and after he won his 21st and 22nd major in 2022, his hip problems the following year appear to have allowed Novak Djoković to finally claim the undisputed title as the most successful men’s tennis player in grand slam history.