Rafael Nadal announces decision to retire from tennis at the end of the season
Lawn tennis great, Rafael Nadal has taken to his official social media account that he will be retiring from the game which has brought him fame and fortune at the end of the season.
The tennis star who has won 22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, including a record 14 French Open titles disclosed that he will quit the game officially after representing Spain at next month’s Davis Cup Final.
In a video message released on social media, Nadal who was once ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for 209 weeks said that the last two years have been difficult for him to cope with the physicality of the game.
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He 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.” The tennis player nicknamed the king of clay added.
The 38-year-old Rafael Nadal, who has been sidelined by injury for several months and has played very little tennis in the last two seasons, ends his career as the second-most successful men’s singles player, only to longtime rival Novak Djokovic.