Rafael Nadal is preparing to retire from professional tennis. His last event will be the Davis Cup finals in Malaga, Spain. The tournament begins Tuesday.
Nadal, 38, has been a professional tennis player for over two decades. He is the second member of the Big Three in men's tennis to retire.
Roger Federer retired in 2022. Novak Djokovic is still playing at a high level.
“It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it is the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”
When will Rafael Nadal play his last match?
It is unclear when Nadal will play his last match. The Davis Cup is a team event. The tournament format is a "Final 8" which begins with the quarterfinals.
Spain will play the Netherlands on Tuesday. If Spain wins, they will advance to the semifinals on Friday. They will play the winner of the Canada-Germany quarterfinal match. Canada and Germany play on Wednesday.
The other quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Thursday. The United States will play Australia. Defending Davis Cup champion Italy will play Argentina. The championship round will be played on Sunday.
Each Davis Cup matchup consists of two singles matches and one doubles match. The first country to win two matches advances to the next round.
Where to watch Nadal and Davis Cup Finals?
Rafael Nadal's last match and rest of the Davis Cup will be broadcast live on The Tennis Channel in the United States. Listings for rest of the world are not clear yet.
Will Nadal play singles?
It is unknown if Nadal will play singles, doubles, or both. Spain's captain David Ferrer will make the decision. It is also possible, though unlikely, that Nadal will not play in any matches.
Nadal will be joined by his teammates on Spain's Davis Cup team: Carlos Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut, Pedro Martinez, and Marcel Granollers. Alcaraz has won four Grand Slam titles.
Why is Nadal retiring now?
Nadal has decided to retire due to a series of injuries. He has been hampered by foot, abdominal muscle, and hip injuries in recent years. He required hip surgery last season.
“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.”
When was Nadal's last match?
Nadal has not played many matches in the last two seasons because of injuries. His 2024 record is 12-7. His most recent official tournament was the Paris Olympics in early August.
Nadal lost in the second round of the men's singles tournament to Novak Djokovic. Djokovic went on to win the gold medal. Nadal and Alcaraz were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the men's doubles tournament.
Nadal played two exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia last month.
How many majors did Nadal win?
Nadal will retire with 22 Grand Slam singles titles. He trails only Novak Djokovic, who has 24, for most all-time in men's singles. Roger Federer is third with 20 Grand Slam titles.
Nadal has won the French Open 14 times, the U.S. Open four times, Wimbledon twice, and the Australian Open twice. His last Grand Slam title was at the 2022 French Open. Nadal received nerve-numbing injections in his left foot during the tournament.
What is Nadal's record in the Davis Cup?
Nadal has been a part of five Davis Cup-winning teams for Spain. He helped Spain win the Davis Cup in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2019. Nadal was a teenager when he helped Spain win its first Davis Cup title in 2004.
Nadal defeated then world No. 2 Andy Roddick to secure Spain's victory over the United States.
“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, because one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004.”
