Wenslus Murape
LONDON. — Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, will retire from tennis at the end of this season.
The 38-year-old will make his final appearance for Spain at November’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
In a video message released on Thursday, Nadal said: “I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis.
“The reality is that it has been some difficult years, the last two especially.
“I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.”
Last month, Garbine Muguruza claimed that Rafael Nadal told her when he would retire.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s future looks unclear after he pulled out of the Laver Cup.
He has not played a match since the Olympics.
Muguruza retired in April after spending more than a year on the sidelines.
And she also revealed Nadalhad a deadline for his career.
Nadal has barely played over the last couple of years.
He returned from a 12-month lay-off in January only to get injured again and has since only competed in clay-court tournaments.
His last match came more than nine weeks ago when he crashed out of the Olympics men’s doubles event with Carlos Alcaraz.
Since then, the 38-year-old has withdrawn from the US Open and the Laver Cup and his future is uncertain.
While Nadal has constantly shut down retirement chat, claiming he doesn’t know when he’ll stop playing, Muguruza revealed that he told her when he would end his career.
“It’s hard to know him. He’s very shy,” the 2017 Wimbledon champion told Tennis.com.
“We talked a little bit at the Laureus Awards in Madrid earlier this year. He said, ‘This is my last year,’ but he didn’t share anything else. I don’t want to ask him personal questions.”
“He’s so ready. His body, his mind, just everything.” — BBC Sports/Tennis.com
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter