Rafael Nadal calls time on epic tennis career | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
July 24, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025
Rafael Nadal calls time on epic tennis career

Sports

AFP
10 October, 2024, 04:55 pm
Last modified: 10 October, 2024, 04:59 pm

Related News

  • The future of Tennis is now and it’s exciting!
  • Djokovic within two wins of 100th title as he turns 38
  • Red-hot Sabalenka too strong for Gauff in Madrid final
  • Djokovic crashes out in Madrid, uncertain about future appearances
  • Serena Williams: I’d be banned for 20 years if I failed drug tests like Sinner

Rafael Nadal calls time on epic tennis career

Nadal has been included alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the Spain team as he bids to sign off with a fifth Davis Cup triumph in Malaga next month.

AFP
10 October, 2024, 04:55 pm
Last modified: 10 October, 2024, 04:59 pm
Rafael Nadal calls time on epic tennis career

Rafael Nadal on Thursday announced he will retire after the Davis Cup finals in November, ending a career which brought 22 Grand Slam titles, global respect and inspired epic, iconic rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

"I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially," Nadal said in a video on social media.

"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."

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The 38-year-old Spaniard is set to end his two decades as a professional with 92 titles and prize money alone of $135 million, his status long since secured as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

"I think it's the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more succesful than I could have ever imagined," said Nadal.

"But 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," added Nadal, who won the Davis Cup for the first time as a teenager in 2004.

Nadal dominated the French Open where he won 14 of his majors, his first arriving just days after his 19th birthday in 2005, his last in 2022 briefly making him the event's oldest champion before the record was eclipsed by Djokovic a year later.

On the famous crushed brick of Roland Garros, he lost just four times in 116 matches.

He was also a four-time champion at the US Open and a two-time winner at the Australian Open, his first triumph coming in 2009; his second 13 years later.

Nadal also won Wimbledon twice, in 2008 and 2010 even though grass seemed to be the surface most likely to expose any shortcomings in his game.

His five-set victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 championship match, which ended in almost complete darkness at the All England Club, is widely regarded as the greatest Slam final ever played.

Nadal claimed a career Golden Slam when he took Olympic Games gold in 2008.

He was a five-time year-end world number one and never left the top 10 from 2005 until March last year.

In total, he spent 209 weeks in top spot and between 2004 and 2022, won at least one title every year.

In his long rivalry with close friend Federer, who retired two years ago, he enjoyed a 24-16 edge. Nadal surpassed Federer's mark of 20 majors in Australia in 2022.

He and Djokovic, the all-time leader with 24 men's Grand Slam titles, met 60 times with the Serb just ahead by two.

An underpowered Nadal was swept aside by Djokovic in straight sets in their final meeting at this year's Paris Olympics.

Nadal has not played since losing in the doubles quarter-finals with Alcaraz a few days later.

Despite his record-breaking career, Nadal was plagued by injuries, a painful by-product of his all-action, brutal-hitting style.

- Injury-plagued-

Ankle, wrist, knee, elbow and abdominal problems caused him to sit out 18 Grand Slam tournaments and withdraw mid-event on five occasions at the majors.

At the 2022 French Open, he admitted that his title charge would have been impossible without daily pain-killing injections in his foot.

Nadal then underwent a medical procedure which required nerves in the foot to be burned to allow him to extend his career.

However, the creaks in the body were getting louder.

An abdominal strain forced him out of Wimbledon where he had made the semi-finals.

He was then struck down with a hip injury at the Australian Open the following January as he crashed out in the second round -- his earliest exit at the majors in seven years.

His wife Mery was in tears as she watched him struggle through to the end.

Nadal possibly sensed the writing was on the wall at the 2022 Laver Cup in London when he played alongside Federer in the great Swiss star's final tournament.

At 41, and unable to shake off a knee injury, Federer called it quits.

The two men wept and even grasped each other's hands as the Federer era ended.

"When Roger leaves the tour, an important part of my life is leaving too," said Nadal.

Others

Rafael Nadal / Tennis

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    Tariff issue: Bangladesh, US set for crucial virtual meeting on 29 July - not tommorow
  • Milestone tragedy: CID confirms identities of 5 victims using DNA samples
    Milestone tragedy: CID confirms identities of 5 victims using DNA samples
  • Rescue workers carry out operations at Milestone School and College following the BAF fighter jet crash on 21 July 2025. Photo: Mehedi Hasan
    Most victims in Milestone crash are students under 15

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Collected
    Bangladeshi man jailed for life in UK for murdering wife in front of their baby
  • Ctg port authority halts contractor recruitment for Kamalapur ICD operations for two months
    Ctg port authority halts contractor recruitment for Kamalapur ICD operations for two months
  • Fire at Cosmo School in Mirpur on 23 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Fire breaks out at Cosmo School in Mirpur following generator explosion
  • Representational image. File Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    Debate arises as edu adviser says postponed HSC exams of 22 and 24 July will be held on same day
  • BB issues dress code for all, discourages short-sleeved or length dresses, leggings for female staff
    BB issues dress code for all, discourages short-sleeved or length dresses, leggings for female staff
  • Infographics: TBS
    Stay orders won’t shield defaulters: BB governor 

Related News

  • The future of Tennis is now and it’s exciting!
  • Djokovic within two wins of 100th title as he turns 38
  • Red-hot Sabalenka too strong for Gauff in Madrid final
  • Djokovic crashes out in Madrid, uncertain about future appearances
  • Serena Williams: I’d be banned for 20 years if I failed drug tests like Sinner

Features

Photo: Collected

24 July: More than 1400 arrested, 3 missing coordinators found

18h | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help at burn institute

2d | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

1d | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Jamaat Ameer's statement misleading: Chatra Dal general secretary

Jamaat Ameer's statement misleading: Chatra Dal general secretary

5m | TBS Today
Dollar gets upward push as BB buys $10m more in auction at even higher rate

Dollar gets upward push as BB buys $10m more in auction at even higher rate

1h | TBS Insight
'Brahmanbaria has always been deprived because it fought against fascism'

'Brahmanbaria has always been deprived because it fought against fascism'

2h | TBS Today
All aboard crashed plane feared dead: Tass

All aboard crashed plane feared dead: Tass

2h | TBS News Updates
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net