Sports and Wellness

Game, Set, Match: Nadal Retires from Professional Tennis

By Kayla Rosen

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With 23 years of dominance, 22 Grand Slam titles, five Davis Cups, two Olympic Medals, and over 200 weeks at world number one, is there any question that Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest tennis players of all time?  

On Tuesday November 19th, the Spanish tennis professional Nadal played his last men’s singles match at the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain. He lost to Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands in straight sets, 4-6, 4-6. Nadal, who was born in Mallorca, Spain, on June 3, 1986, retired from tennis at 38 years old. He had an illustrious 23-year career that included a record 14 French Opens and 22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles. 

At his last match in Spain, the crowd was fired up for Nadal. They cheered him on after the Spanish national anthem, chanting “Rafa, Rafa, Rafa.” In between points, the fans went wild, trying to push him to victory, but it was not enough. Ultimately, the match was decided by serves. Nadal made 61% of his first serves, winning 70% of those points, while van de Zandschulp made 76% of his first serves, winning 90% of those points. Nadal lost in front of his Spanish fans, who rose to give him a standing ovation after the final point while Nadal blew kisses. The crowd left satisfied having witnessed his last match and many of his signature fist pumps. In the end, Spain was eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup.

Nadal had an incredible 29-2 record at the Davis Cup. Interestingly, his only losses were his first ever Davis Cup match in 2004 when he was just 17 years old and his last match in 2024. He won the Davis Cup five times in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2019. His loss on November 19th ended his winning streak of 32 consecutive matches in singles and doubles. 

Over the years, Nadal has struggled with injuries, including Mueller-Weiss syndrome in his foot and abdominal issues. Earlier this year, he missed the Australian Open but was in good shape to make the Olympics in Paris, playing doubles with the 21-year-old Spanish player, Carlos Alcarez, making it to the quarterfinals.  

There is great admiration for Nadal, the Spanish hero who was praised as a mentally tough tennis player throughout his career. In particular, he was known for his strong performance on clay surfaces. After his last professional match, Nadal had a short retirement ceremony, commenting, “I have been very lucky that life gave me the opportunity to live unforgettable experiences because of tennis.” 

As to what is next for Nadal, only time will tell. His legacy is extraordinary, and, as he directly stated, “I just want to be remembered as a good person and a kid that followed their dream and achieved more than what I’ve ever dreamed.” At 38 years old, Nadal has so much to look forward to as he continues to inspire the world with his unwavering determination. 

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