Rafael Nadal retiring from professional tennis

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Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday he will retire from professional tennis after he represents his country in the Davis Cup next month.

Nadal, 38, is arguably one of the greatest tennis players to ever play the sport – possibly only matched by two of the all-time greats that played in his era in Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

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Rafael Nadal reacts against Frances Tiafoe during their Men’s Singles Fourth Round match on Day Eight of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 5, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Nadal won 22 Grand Slam titles during his illustrious career and two gold medals, one in singles competition and the other in doubles.

"Hello everyone, I’m here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis," Nadal said in a video posted to his X account.

Nadal said the last two years of his career have been the most difficult as he has dealt with numerous injuries that have kept him sidelined from Grand Slams. He lamented not being able to play the sport he has dominated for years without limitations.

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Rafael Nadal acknowledges the spectators after the men's singles 2nd round match against Mackenzie McDonald of the United States at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 18, 2023. (Bai Xuefei/Xinhua via Getty Images)

"It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make," he said. "But, in this life,