Professional tennis legend Rafael Nadal announced his retirement yesterday, with his final match set for next month’s Davis Cup finals in Malaga, Spain. Nadal has played in only nine tournaments since the start of 2023 due to injuries and recovery from surgery.
The 38-year-old Spaniard achieved remarkable success during his 23-year career. He won 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Open championships, and secured 92 ATP titles, with 36 at the Masters 1000 level, a tier below Grand Slams. He holds the record for the longest winning streak on a single surface in the Open Era, winning 81 consecutive matches on clay courts, and boasts a 1,080–227 record, second behind Novak Djokovic. He has two Olympic gold medals, spent a total of 209 weeks at No. 1 in the ATP rankings, and earned nearly $135M in prize money.
Beyond tennis, Nadal is a five-time Laureus Award winner for his foundation, which provides opportunities for at-risk adolescents through sports and education.
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