Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement from tennis, pulling the plug on an illustrious 23-year career.
Nadal, 38, announced he will retire from the sport next month and revealed the Davis Cup in Malaga will be his last event in a video message shared on social media on Thursday.
The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, including 14 French Open victories, said: “Hello everyone. I am here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis.”
The Spaniard is highly regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, earning the title ‘King of Clay’ for his dominance on the red soil at Rolland Garros.
Rafael Nadal, 38, confirms retirement date in emotional farewell video
The Spaniard leaves the sport as a 22-time Grand Slam title winner
The Spaniard is highly regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, earning the title ‘King of Clay’ for his dominance on the red soil at Rolland Garros
Rafael Nadal net worth
Nadal is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
But that’s not the only thing he can be proud of; the Spaniard is also one of the richest tennis players in history.
Since turning pro again in 2001, the tennis ace has amassed $135 million (£103 million) in prize money, according to the ATP touronly second behind rival Novak Djokovic on the all-time list.
And according to Net Worth of CelebritiesThe 38-year-old has an estimated net worth of $220 million (£168 million).
Last year alone, Nadal earned $301,661 (£230,772) from on-court earnings and his status as one of the biggest names in tennis will see him earn $23.3 million (£17.8 million) from his business in 2024 outside the tennis world. court according to Forbes including performances and sponsorship agreements.
Since turning pro again in 2001, the tennis great has amassed $135 million in prize money
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the 38-year-old is estimated to have a net worth of $220 million (£168 million).
Nadal’s sponsorship deals and endorsements
The 22-time Grand Slam winner has made millions through sponsorship deals and endorsements.
Nadal has a career-long endorsement with Nike, with the ‘King of Clay’ choosing to always wear the infamous Nike swoosh when suiting up for all tournaments.
The 38-year-old also has longstanding relationships with Kia Motors and recently signed a new deal with Infosys.
While at the same time becoming an ambassador for the Saudi Arabian Tennis Federation, which is widely believed to pay him seven figures annually.
Other deals the Spaniard has made money from include luxury fashion brands Emporio Armani, Tommy Hilfiger and Babolat.
He also appeared in a Louis Vuitton campaign alongside fellow tennis great Roger Federer and invested in racquet sports booking company Playtomic.
Other companies that have sponsored him over the years include Cantabria Labs, Heineken NV, LVMH, Richard Mille, Santander, Subway and Telefonica.
Nadal has a career-long endorsement with Nike, with the ‘King of Clay’ choosing to always wear the infamous Nike swoosh when suiting up for all tournaments
He has multiple sponsors, including deals with Kia Motors, Santander and Emporio Armani
He also appeared in a Louis Vuitton campaign alongside fellow tennis great Roger Federer
What did Rafael Nadal say about his retirement?
In a video message, Nadal said: “Hello everyone, I am here to tell you that I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been a difficult few years, especially these last two. I don’t think I was able to play without limitations.
‘It is of course a difficult decision, which took me a long time. But in this life everything has a beginning and an end.
‘And I think this is the right time to end a career that has been long and much more successful than I could ever have imagined.
‘But I am very happy that my last tournament will be the Davis Cup final and that I will represent my country. It has come full circle, because one of my first great joys as a tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004.’