2024 marked the end of Rafael Nadal’s illustrious professional tennis career.
For over two decades the Spaniard entertained fans with a swashbuckling style of play, elite resilience and will to win.
He won plenty of titles and set multiple records during his playing days, some of which may never be broken.
But all good things must come to an end and Rafael Nadal has since named the tournament he entered when he knew it was time to hang up his racket.
Rafael Nadal says he knew his career was over after the 2024 Olympic Games
Until the age of 36, Nadal was still winning Grand Slam titles.
In 2022 he won his 14th French Open title, along with the Australian Open crown he claimed earlier that season, and at that time he held the male Grand Slam record.
The former world number one would never win another title and he reached just one more final after that moment as injury finally took its toll on Nadal.
He played into 2024, with a clear goal in mind, to represent Spain at the Olympic Games for a fourth time. Following the tournament, Nadal knew that it was time to bring the curtain down on a phenomenal career.
“It [2024 Olympics] was the last event that I played after I decided that my career was over,” the 22-time Grand Slam champion told Laureus Sports Awards via Instagram.
“Before that event, more or less, I knew that was going to happen, but it was the last event that I played, in some way as a professional athlete.
“Playing with Carlos as a partner was very emotional, very special, representing my country in my last Olympic Games.”
Rafael Nadal played just two more events after the 2024 Olympic Games before retiring
Following the 2024 Paris Games, Nadal did not play again until the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.
Nadal played against Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, and he succumbed to defeat on both occasions.
Nadal’s final tournament was the Davis Cup finals, which took place on home soil in Malaga in November 2024.
Nadal took on Botic van de Zandschulp in the final match of his career in the opening singles match of the quarter-final tie.
The 14-time French Open winner fought valiantly but the Dutchman defeated him in straight sets and the Netherlands defeated Spain 2-1 to reach the semi-finals.
Nadal received a standing ovation from the crowd and he gave a final address before bowing out of professional tennis.
