Rafael Nadal, one of tennis’ all-time greats, is retiring from the sport.
The 38-year-old Spaniard played his final match Tuesday, losing in straight sets to the Netherlands' Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. Continuing injury struggles have severely limited Nadal's time on the court over the past two seasons.
“It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make,” he said last month in a video announcing his retirement. “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 won 22 grand slam singles titles, which is the second-most in history behind Novak Djokovic. Fourteen of those came at the French Open, a record that earned him the nickname the “King of Clay.”
Nadal also won singles and doubles gold for Spain at the Olympics and led his country to four Davis Cup titles.
“I leave with the absolute peace of mind of having given my best, of having made an effort in every way,” Nadal said.
