Rafael Nadal announced Thursday that he will retire from tennis at the age of 38 after next month’s Davis Cup final.

Nadal won 22 Grand Slam singles titles in an unprecedented era that he shared with his so-called Big Three rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

“Really, everything I experienced was a dream come true,” Nadal said in an announcement on social media. “I leave with the absolute certainty that I gave my best and made an effort in every way.”

The Spaniard stated that his decision was related to this ongoing injury problems.

“The reality is that it has been a difficult few years, particularly the last two. I don’t think I could play without restrictions. It’s obviously a difficult decision that took me some time. But in.” “In this life everything has a beginning and an end,” said Nadal.

Nadal’s relentless, physical style of play – he pursued every point as if it were his last, sprinting and sliding into the right spot for the leaping bullwhip of a left forehand – made him one of the game’s all-time greats and the undisputed king of the clay court. the slow, red surface on which he won his record 14 French Open championships.

That’s more than anyone, man or woman, has won in any of the sport’s four major tournaments, a dominance celebrated by a statue of Nadal that stands near the main entrance to the Roland Garros grounds and in the shadow of the The main stadium court is Philippe Chatrier.

Nadal added on Thursday that he was looking forward to finishing his career at the Davis Cup, which will be held in Malaga, Spain.

“I am very happy that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and represent my country,” he said. “I think it’s come full circle for me because one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004.”

Nadal has since the Olympic Games in Paris, where he lost to old rival Djokovic in the second round of the singles tournament and reached the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.

“I think it is the right time to end a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined,” he said.

In 2022, Nadal won his 14th French Open singles title at the age of 36. he told “CBS Mornings.” He “couldn’t be happier” – even though he was playing in pain.

“Well, first of all, I’m used to it,” he told CBS. “Ultimately it’s about passion and how much you love what you do. And throughout my tennis career I was determined to keep going.”

“It doesn’t matter what situation puts me in the position I find myself in today, this is unexpected, without a doubt, because at the age of 36 I thought I would do other things and not play tennis… But here I am .” “It’s me, and I couldn’t be happier,” he said.