One of the greatest is retiring: Rafina's ode to tennis

Nadal announced that the Davis Cup at the end of the year will be the last competition of his amazing career

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Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Legendary Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal announced today that he is ending his professional career at the end of this season.

"This is reality. It's been a difficult year behind me, I can no longer play at the level I want to be at," said 38-year-old Nadal in a video message published on social networks.

Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, will play his last matches in November for the Spanish Davis Cup team, from November 14 to 24 in Malaga.

"This is a very difficult decision and it took me a little longer to come to it. But that's life. Everything has to end. Everything has a beginning and an end. I think it's the right time to end a career that has been a lot longer and much more successful than I could have ever imagined," Nadal said in a video message.

"I am very happy that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final where I will represent my country. I have come full circle, considering that one of my first joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004."

Nadal started with thanks:

"I feel super, super lucky because of everything I had the opportunity to experience. Thank you to the entire tennis industry, to all the people involved in this sport, to my long-time colleagues, especially to my biggest rivals. I spent many, many hours with them and experienced many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life."

After the opponent, he switched to the collaborator:

"Talking about my team is a little more difficult for me, because they were a very important part of my life. They are not just colleagues, they are my friends. They were by my side in all the moments when I needed them. In very bad and very good moments. When it was necessary to push me, when it was necessary to give in to me. We've been through so much that it's hard to explain."

My family is everything - said Rafa and turned to the closest people in his life:

"My mother. She made every sacrifice she had to so that we always had everything we needed. My wife. We have been together for 19 years. Thank you for everything you did, you were the perfect companion during all these years of my career. Coming home and seeing my son grow every day was the strength that kept me going and gave me the energy to keep going. My sister. We've always had an amazing relationship. My uncle. The reason I started playing tennis. I believe that thanks to him I managed to overcome many difficult situations in my career. And my father - who was a source of inspiration for me in every sense of the word. He was an example of effort and overcoming obstacles. Many, many thanks to my father in a special way."

And finally…

"Finally, you - the fans! I can't thank you enough for making me feel for you. You gave me the energy I needed at all times. Everything I experienced was the fulfillment of a dream. I leave with an absolutely calm head, aware that I gave everything I could, that I tried in every way", thanked Nadal "a thousand times" and added:

"See you soon!"

Bonus video: