11 october 2024 : Before the world knew Rafael Nadal as a tennis legend, he was already displaying his fighting spirit on the court. In 2001, at just 14 years old, Nadal was thrust into an exhibition match in Mallorca when Boris Becker withdrew, and he gave it his all, playing with relentless energy and determination. This never-say-die attitude would define his entire career, whether he was down 40-0 in a set or facing the twilight of his professional journey.
On Thursday, at the age of 38, Nadal announced his retirement from tennis after one last appearance for Spain at the Davis Cup Finals next month. In a heartfelt video, he explained that after years of battling through injuries, the time had come to end his extraordinary career, one that exceeded all his expectations. “It’s the appropriate time to put an end to what has been a long and much more successful career than I could have ever imagined,” he said in his emotional farewell.
