Rafael Nadal Retires From Tennis With $560M in Career Earnings

Rafael Nadal, one of tennis’s greatest legends, has announced his retirement, signaling the end of a remarkable career spanning over two decades. In a heartfelt video posted on social media, the 38-year-old reflected on his recent struggles with injuries and his decision to retire next month. “The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these two especially,” Nadal said. “But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it’s an appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”

Nadal plans to play his final matches for Spain in the Davis Cup, where they will face the Netherlands in Malaga from November 19-21. Throughout his career, Nadal has led Spain to four Davis Cup titles, a testament to his contributions to the sport both as an individual and as a team player.

Since turning professional in 2001, Nadal has crafted one of the most impressive resumes in tennis history. He won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second only to Novak Djokovic’s 24, among his total of 92 ATP titles. His dominance on clay courts is especially noteworthy, with a record-breaking 14 French Open victories and a remarkable career record of 112-4 at the tournament, three of those losses coming at the hands of Djokovic. Additionally, Nadal held the world No. 1 ranking for 209 weeks, finishing five seasons as the top-ranked player.

Over the course of his career, Nadal earned $134.9 million in prize money, placing him second all-time behind Djokovic. His off-court success was equally impressive, with an estimated $425 million generated through endorsements and appearances. His total career earnings, including prize money, reach an astounding $560 million.

Nike has been Nadal’s most significant sponsor throughout his career, paying him over $10 million in top years, particularly when he finished as the world No. 1. Other brands such as Babolat, Kia, Santander, Telefonica, Infosys, Cantabria Labs, and Richard Mille have been among his long-term partners. Even as injuries slowed him down in the last two years—playing only 23 matches since the start of 2023—he remains a sought-after ambassador for global brands. Recently, Louis Vuitton featured him alongside Roger Federer in an ad campaign, and in January, Nadal was named an ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s tennis federation with plans to open a Rafael Nadal Academy in the kingdom.

Nadal’s retirement leaves Novak Djokovic as the only remaining active player from tennis’s legendary “Big Three,” with Federer having retired in 2022. Between 2004 and 2023, Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer dominated the sport, collectively winning 65 of the 79 Grand Slam tournaments held during that period. Their reign has ended with the emergence of younger stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who each won two Grand Slam titles in 2024, marking a new era for tennis.