World

Rafael Nadal announces retirement from professional tennis

Published

9 months ago

October 10, 2024

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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.

“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.

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.

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

Rob Harris

Sports correspondent

@RobHarris

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.

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.”

“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.”

World

Women’s Euros: Concerns for player safety as tournament kicks off in Switzerland

Published

4 hours ago

July 2, 2025

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Women's Euros: Concerns for player safety as tournament kicks off in Switzerland

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

World

Women’s Euros 2025: Where is it, how to watch and when are England and Wales playing?

Published

4 hours ago

July 2, 2025

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Women's Euros 2025: Where is it, how to watch and when are England and Wales playing?

England are looking to defend their title at the 2025 Women’s Euros.

But conquering this year’s competition will be tricky right from the group stages.

The Lionesses will come up against Wales, who made history by qualifying for their first major tournament, and two other European heavyweights: France and the Netherlands.

As the tournament kicks off, extreme temperatures have raised questions about whether players are being protected in hot and humid conditions.

Here is everything you need to know about Euro 2025.

Where is Euro 2025 being held?

This year’s Women’s Euros is being held in Switzerland.

The competition kicks off on Wednesday 2 July, with the final on Sunday 27 July.

Matches will be held in eight venues across Switzerland from Zurich to Geneva, with the final game being played in Basel.

What teams have qualified?

A total of 16 teams have qualified for the competition.

Eight teams progressed directly from the qualifying league stage and seven teams qualified via the play-offs.

As hosts, Switzerland qualified automatically.

The teams playing in the tournament are:

• England
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Iceland
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Wales

How much do the winners get?

This year, the total available prize money for the tournament stands at €41m (£34m) – more than doubling from the prize pot in 2022.

All competing sides receive a €1.8m (£1.5m) participation fee, with the remaining money going to the quarter-finalists, semi-finalists, runners-up and winners.

The maximum prize money achievable for the tournament winners, if they also win their three group stage matches, is €5.1m (£4.3m).

Who has (and hasn’t) made the England squad?

Some notable names will be missing from the England squad this year.

Goalkeeper Mary Earps announced in May that she is retiring from international football with immediate effect.

Within days, two other names, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright, also announced they would not be taking part in Euro 2025.

The departure of Bright, Earps and Kirby is a loss of three experienced players – between them they have 218 international appearances.

So who has manager Sarina Wiegman picked for the 23-person squad, and who has been snubbed?

Use our slider below to look through some of the key players, or see a list of the full England squad, here.

History-making Wales squad announced

The Welsh women’s national football team has qualified for an international tournament for the first time.

Their 23-player squad was announced by head coach Rhian Wilkinson at the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) on Thursday morning.

Midfielder Angharad James captains the side, and is one of four players to have played over 100 times alongside fellow Wales veterans Jess Fishlock, Hayley Ladd and Sophie Ingle, who also made the cut.

Ingle hasn’t featured for club or country since suffering an ACL injury during a pre-season friendly for Chelsea last September.

The 33-year-old returned to full training at the beginning of the month and her inclusion comes as a significant boost ahead of Wales’ first major tournament.

Fishlock, Wales’ record appearance holder and goalscorer, will hope to add to her 47 international goals as she leads the line.

The side beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 in a play-off match to secure their spot in the Euros.

Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson said after the match: “This team found a way. They never broke for each other, they stayed strong. I’ve never been prouder of a team.

“This team stands on the shoulders of giants [the pioneering female footballers] who came before, and now they’ve proven how good they are.”

What are the Euro 2025 groups?

Similarly to the World Cup, teams in the Euros are split into four groups.

The top two teams in each group will progress to the knockout stage, where games will be decided by extra-time and penalties if needed.

The knockout stage pits the winners of the group against the runners-up, meaning Germany, Poland, Denmark or Sweden could lie in wait for England and Wales in the last eight.

Group A: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Finland

Group B: Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy

Group C: Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden

Group D: France, England, Wales, Netherlands

When are England and Wales playing?

The Lionesses start their bid for the Euros title on 5 July when they take on France. The game will take place in Zurich at 8pm UK time.

Wales kick off their campaign earlier the same day, against the Netherlands. That game starts at 5pm UK time in Lucerne.

The two nations will be the last teams in Group D to face each other.

Their showdown will be held in the city of St Gallen, on Sunday 13 July. Kick-off is at 8pm UK time.

Can England win the Euros again?

The Lionesses lifted the Euros trophy in front of a home crowd in 2022, after beating Germany 2-1.

Chloe Kelly delivered the deciding goal in extra time, but can the team do it all again?

Lucy Bronze admitted to Sky News that the team faces “one of the hardest” groups going into the tournament, but added: “We know on any given day, when we play at our best we can beat any team in the world.”

The right-back said: “We have got one of the most talented squads going into the Euros… I wouldn’t want to be a defender on the other team going against some of our players.

“We know it is going to be difficult, there are maybe a handful of teams that are capable of winning it, and we are definitely one of them.”

After naming her squad in May, Weigman told Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris: “This group is a very well-balanced mix of players with multiple tournaments on their CVs and also those that will make their tournament debuts.

“I am excited to see what we are capable of this summer.”

How to watch the Euros 2025

Eevery single match of the Women’s Euros will be shown across the BBC and ITV, with the two broadcasters showing half of the 31 matches each, except the final, which will be shown on both channels.

Every match will also be screened live at three venues across London and Birmingham.

TOCA Social at The O2 and Westfield White City in London and The Bullring in Birmingham is hosting watch parties for fans hoping to catch all the action.

World

Snake captured on passenger plane – as expert reveals how it got there

Published

4 hours ago

July 2, 2025

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Snake captured on passenger plane - as expert reveals how it got there

A flight in Australia was delayed for two hours after a stowaway snake was found in the plane’s cargo hold.

The reptile was found as passengers were boarding Virgin Australia Flight VA337 at Melbourne Airport bound for Brisbane.

Snake catcher Mark Pelley said he thought it could be venomous when he approached it in the darkened hold.

But it turned out to be a harmless 60cm green tree snake.

“It wasn’t until after I caught the snake that I realised that it wasn’t venomous. Until that point, it looked very dangerous to me,” Mr Pelley said.

He said when he entered the cargo hold, the snake was half hidden behind a panel and he feared it could flee deeper into the plane.

“I had one chance to grab it, and if it escaped past me it would have gone into the panels, and then that would have been extremely hard to catch,” he told Sky News.

“Snakes are very fast-moving, thin and agile,” he added.

Mr Pelley said he told an aircraft engineer and airline staff they would have to evacuate the aircraft if the snake disappeared inside the plane.

“I said to them if I don’t get this in one shot, it’s going to sneak through the panels and you’re going to have to evacuate the plane because at that stage I did not know what kind of snake it was,” he explained in a separate interview.

“But thankfully, I got it on the first try and captured it,” he added. “If I didn’t get it that first time, the engineers and I would be pulling apart a [Boeing] 737 looking for a snake still right now.”