“My blood pressure right now” – Rafael Nadal hanging his boots before attempting to equal Novak Djokovic’s record has tennis fans in shock

Fans on social media expressed shock after Rafael Nadal announced that he would be retiring from the sport this year.

“My blood pressure right now” – Rafael Nadal hanging his boots before attempting to equal Novak Djokovic’s record has tennis fans in shock

Rafael Nadal (Via Imago)

Rafael Nadal has announced that he will retire from professional tennis after the Davis Cup Finals this year. The Spaniard has been absent from the court since the Paris Olympics in August and recently withdrew from two big tournaments, including the US Open.

Nadal emerged as one of the best players on the ATP Tour two decades ago. He quickly began to challenge Roger Federer’s dominance and established himself as the best player on clay courts. Out of the 22 Grand Slams he won, 14 of them came at the Roland Garros, a tournament he dominated unlike any player in history. He went on to compile an unprecedented 112-4 win-loss record there.

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Nadal also won all four Majors multiple times during his career and spent 208 weeks as the World No. 1. However, in the end, his body played a significant role in his retirement. The Spaniard was out for the entirety of the 2023 season. He returned to the tour this season but could only feature in a handful of events.

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The 38-year-old was hoping to win a medal at the Paris Olympics, but it didn’t materialize. He exited in the second round of the singles and later in the quarterfinals of the doubles. Nadal revealed his retirement from the sport with a video on social media, admitting it has been a difficult two years for him.

I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that the last two years have been difficult. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations.

Rafael Nadal said in a video posted on X

Nadal will compete in a lucrative exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia before eventually retiring after the Davis Cup Finals in October.

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Fans react to shocking Rafael Nadal retirement after barely playing on ATP Tour over the past two years

Fans on social media have expressed shock at Rafael Nadal’s retirement announcement. The Spaniard has barely played over the past two seasons on the ATP Tour because of injuries. He revealed last year he could retire at the end of the 2024 season.

Rafael Nadal (2)
Rafael Nadal (Image via Imago)

However, Nadal did his best to compete this season but his body let him down in the end. He will now not be able to reach Novak Djokovic’s Majors record (24) before his retirement. Here are a few fan reactions to the news of Nadal’s retirement:

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Nadal will lead the Spanish team at the Davis Cup in November having won it five times in his career. He was added to the team after Spain qualified for the quarterfinals phase last month. He will be a great addition to the team as he hopes to win it for the sixth time.