Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from professional tennis.
The 38-year-old, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, announced the news in an emotional video message posted on X.
“Hello everyone. I’m here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis,” the Spaniard said.
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“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,” he said.
“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’s the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”
Nadal achieved a series of incredible records on clay but was an all-time great on all surfaces. He proved anyone putting him into a box marked “clay specialist” was mistaken.
However, the 14-time French Open winner, who also boasts four US Open titles and won Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, has struggled with various injuries over the last few years.
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Image: Nadal boasts 112 victories at Roland Garros, including 14 French Open titles. File pic: Action Images/Reuters/Jason O’Brien
Nadal missed the 2023 French Open and won his last Roland Garros title in 2022, leaving the tournament on a jaw-dropping 112-4 win-loss record.
He admitted in May last year he was staring at the end of his career and that he hoped to be able to play a final year on tour in 2024.
His final match will be for Spain at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month, in what will be an emotional end to an illustrious career.
“I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country,” the tennis star revealed in the video post.
He said playing in the tournament would bring a fitting end to his career because “one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Sevilla in 2004”.
Spain defeated the United States with a then 18-year-old Nadal victorious against the USA’s Andy Roddick.
Image: Nadal celebrating his win against the USA’s Andy Roddick in the Davis Cup final at Sevilla’s Olympic Stadium in December 2004. Pic: Reuters
Nadal’s successes came during an extraordinary period of international tennis when he, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and, for a while, Britain’s Andy Murray, dominated the sport.
The former men’s world number one was visibly emotional when Federer, whom he played against 40 times, retired at the Laver Cup in 2022.
“I feel super lucky for all the things I have been able to experience,” Nadal said in his statement.
“I want to thank the entire tennis industry, all the people involved in this sport, my long-time colleagues, especially my great rivals.
“I have spent many hours with them and have lived many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Analysis – An era of greatness is ending in tennis as Nadal joins Federer and Murray
Up close, Rafael Nadal’s athleticism, dedication and willpower was a sight to behold.
None more so than on the grass of Wimbledon in July 2008 – in the fading light of Centre Court, before the roof and lights arrived, on far from his favourite surface. So early in his career, this was the final that embodied Nadal’s fighting spirit. And it was an epic – then the longest-ever final at the All England Club.
No one in the stands wanted it to end. Or be forced to come back the next day. The near-darkness just added to the drama and sense of occasion as – 12 minutes short of five hours – Roger Federer was finally overcome.
The first of Nadal’s two Wimbledon titles was won through so much more than brute force – powered by the bulging biceps.
The topspin technique and ferocity of the forehand was mesmerising.
And it was on the red courts of Roland Garros where Nadal excelled like no player before him.
The King of Clay has 14 French Open titles to his name – more than any man or woman at a tennis major – and 22 Grand Slam successes in total. Only Novak Djokovic has won more.
Only Djokovic is left standing on court, yet to hang up his racket.
.An era of greatness is ending in tennis with Nadal joining Federer and Andy Murray in retirement.
Federer was quick to pay a tribute to his friend and great rival.
“What a career, Rafa! I always hoped this day would never come,” the Swiss and 20-time Grand Slam winner wrote on Instagram.
“Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love. It’s been an absolute honour,” he added.
Image: Nadal with tennis rivals – and friends – (L-R) Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer at the 02 Arena, London, in 2022. Pic: Action Images via Reuters
Former Real Madrid – the team Nadal supports – and Manchester United footballer Cristiano Ronaldo wrote: “Rafa, what an incredible race you’ve had!”
Nadal went on to thank his support team who he said has been a very important part of his life. “They are not just co-workers, they are friends,” he said, adding: “My family is everything to me.”
He spoke of the “sacrifices” his mother Ana Maria had made – and also hailed his wife and partner of 19 years, Mery, for being by his side while on tour over the years.
“To come home and see how my son is growing every day has been a force that has really kept me alive,” he said, referring to their child Rafael Jr.
There was also a nod to his uncle and former coach Toni Nadal, who he said “is the reason I started playing tennis”, and to his father Sebastian Nadal who he described as a “source of inspiration”.
“And finally you, the fans,” he said.
“I can’t thank you enough for what you have made me feel. You have given me the energy I have needed at every moment.”
Image: Fans at the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris in May. Pic: AP
“Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true,” Nadal added.
“I leave with the absolute peace of mind of having given my best, of having made an effort in every way.
“I can only end by saying a thousand thanks to all – and see you soon.”
Nadal in numbers
22 – Grand Slam titles
14 – French Open titles
112 – Victories at Roland Garros
4 – US Open titles
2 – Wimbledon titles
2 – Australian Open titles
30 – Grand Slam final appearances
92 – Tour-level singles titles
2 – Olympic gold medals (one in singles and one in doubles)
36 – ATP Masters 1000 titles
4 – Davis Cup titles with Spain
209 – Weeks spent at world number one
912 – consecutive weeks spent in the top 10
24 – victories over Roger Federer from 40 matches
29 – victories over Novak Djokovic from 60 matches
Sky Sports tennis commentator Jonathan Overend said: “To win 14 times at the same Grand Slam tennis tournament, many careers don’t get anywhere near 14 years and he’s won the thing that many times – absolute madness. The longevity of the guy in the greatest era and that’s what makes Djokovic as the last man standing out of this elite band.
“These numbers will never be repeated on the clay, particularly at Roland Garros. Anyone who saw that beast of a man up close, sometimes in those sleeveless shirts, displaying the guns, bringing out all those shots, recovering from ridiculous positions in the court to beat the other greatest players of all time, it was such a privilege to watch his career.”
The Women’s Euros begin in Switzerland today – with extreme heat warnings in place.
Security measures have had to be relaxed by UEFA for the opening matches so fans can bring in water bottles.
Temperatures could be about 30C (86F) when the Swiss hosts open their campaign against Norway in Basel this evening.
Players have already seen the impact of heatwaves this summer at the men’s Club World Cup in the US.
Image: The Spain squad pauses for refreshments during a training session. Pic: AP
It is raising new concerns in the global players’ union about whether the stars of the sport are being protected in hot and humid conditions.
FIFPRO has asked FIFA to allow cooling breaks every 15 minutes rather than just in the 30th minute of each half.
There’s also a request for half-time to be extended from 15 to 20 minutes to help lower the core temperature of players.
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FIFPRO’s medical director, Dr Vincent Gouttebarge, said: “There are some very challenging weather conditions that we anticipated a couple of weeks ago already, that was already communicated to FIFA.
“And I think the past few weeks were confirmation of all worries that the heat conditions will play a negative role for the performance and the health of the players.”
Football has seemed focused on players and fans baking in the Middle East – but scorching summers in Europe and the US are becoming increasingly problematic for sport.
Image: England are the tournament’s defending champions. Pic: AP
While climate change is a factor, the issue is not new and at the 1994 World Cup, players were steaming as temperatures rose in the US.
There is now more awareness of the need for mitigation measures among players and their international union.
FIFPRO feels football officials weren’t responsive when it asked for kick-off times to be moved from the fierce afternoon heat in the US for the first 32-team Club World Cup.
FIFA has to balance the needs of fans and broadcasters with welfare, with no desire to load all the matches in the same evening time slots.
Electric storms have also seen six games stopped, including a two-hour pause during a Chelsea game at the weekend.
This is the dress rehearsal for the World Cup next summer, which is mostly in the US.
Image: Players are also feeling the heat at the Club World Cup. Pic: AP
The use of more indoor, air conditioned stadiums should help.
There is no prospect of moving the World Cup to winter, as Qatar had to do in 2022.
And looking further ahead to this time in 2030, there will be World Cup matches in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The temperatures this week have been hitting 40C (104F) in some host cities.
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FIFA said in a statement to Sky News: “Heat conditions are a serious topic that affect football globally.
“At the FCWC some significant and progressive measures are being taken to protect the players from the heat. For instance, cooling breaks were implemented in 31 out of 54 matches so far.
“Discussions on how to deal with heat conditions need to take place collectively and FIFA stands ready to facilitate this dialogue, including through the Task Force on Player Welfare, and to receive constructive input from all stakeholders on how to further enhance heat management.
“In all of this, the protection of players must be at the centre.”
Around 14 million people could die across the world over the next five years because of cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), researchers have warned.
Children under five are expected to make up around a third (4.5 million) of the mortalities, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal.
Estimates showed that “unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030”.
“Beyond causing millions of avoidable deaths – particularly among the most vulnerable – these cuts risk reversing decades of progress in health and socioeconomic development in LMICs [low and middle-income countries],” the report said.
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USAID programmes have prevented the deaths of more than 91 million people, around a third of them among children, the study suggests.
The agency’s work has been linked to a 65% fall in deaths from HIV/AIDS, or 25.5 million people.
Eight million deaths from malaria, more than half the total, around 11 million from diarrheal diseases and nearly five million from tuberculosis (TB), have also been prevented.
USAID has been vital in improving global health, “especially in LMICs, particularly African nations,” according to the report.
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Established in 1961, the agency was tasked with providing humanitarian assistance and helping economic growth in developing countries, especially those deemed strategic to Washington.
But the Trump administration has made little secret of its antipathy towards the agency, which became an early victim of cuts carried out by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – formerly led by Elon Musk – in what the US government said was part of a broader plan to remove wasteful spending.
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In March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said more than 80% of USAID schemes had been closed following a six-week review, leaving around 1,000 active.
The US is the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor, providing around $61bn (£44bn) in foreign assistance last year, according to government data, or at least 38% of the total, and USAID is the world’s leading donor for humanitarian and development aid, the report said.
Between 2017 and 2020, the agency responded to more than 240 natural disasters and crises worldwide – and in 2016 it sent food assistance to more than 53 million people across 47 countries.
The study assessed all-age and all-cause mortality rates in 133 countries and territories, including all those classified as low and middle-income, supported by USAID from 2001 to 2021.
Thailand’s prime minister has been suspended after a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian politician caused outrage.
An ethics investigation into Paetongtarn Shinawatra is under way and she could end up being dismissed.
The country’s constitutional court took up a petition from 36 senators, who claimed dishonesty and a breach of ethical standards, and voted 7 to 2 to suspend her.
Image: Protesters gathered in Bangkok at the weekend. Pic: Reuters
The prime minister’s call with Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen, sparked public protests after she tried to appease him and criticised a Thai army commander – a taboo move in a country where the military is extremely influential.
Ms Shinawatra was trying to defuse mounting tensions at the border – which in May resulted in the death of one Cambodian soldier.
Thousands of conservative, nationalist protesters held a demo in Bangkok on Saturday to urge her to step down.
Her party is clinging on to power after another group withdrew from their alliance a few weeks ago over the phone call. Calls for a no-confidence vote are likely.
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Deputy prime minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit will take over temporarily while the court looks into the case.
The 38-year-old prime minister – Thailand‘s youngest ever leader – has 15 days to respond to the probe. She has apologised and said her approach in the call was a negotiating tactic.
The popularity of her government has slumped recently, with an opinion poll showing an approval rating of 9.2%, down from 30.9% in March.
Ms Shinawatra comes from a wealthy dynasty synonymous with Thai politics.
Her father Thaksin Shinawatra – a former Manchester City owner – and aunt Yingluck Shinawatra served as prime minister before her – in the early to mid 2000s – and their time in office also ended ignominiously amid corruption charges and military coups.