Spanish Tennis icon Rafael Nadal announces retirement

Spanish Tennis star Rafael Nadal, whose flashing performance on the court left spectators amazed for years, announced his retirement on Thursday, ending a glorious career in which he amassed 22 grand slam titles.

Nadal’s last tournament will be his appearance for Spain in Davis Cup next month.

Nadal last played at the Paris Olympics.

Known as one of the greatest Tennis stars in the world, Nadal’s injury hampered his career in recent years.

“Hello everyone, I’m here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis,” Nadal said in a video posted on social media as quoted by CNN.

“The reality is that is has been some difficult years, these last two especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations,” he said.

“It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end,” he said.

“And I think it’s the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined,” Nadal said.

38-year-old Nadal turned professional in 2001 and in his 19-year career, the star won 22 Grand Slams.

In his glittering career, the Tennis icon has also won singles and doubles gold for Spain at the Olympics.

He led Spain to five Davis Cup title victories.

Nadal was dubbed the “King of Clay” due to his dominance on the surface where he clinched 14 grand slams at the French Open.

In Paris, he lost only four matches out of the 116 appearances he made in his glittering career.

Apart from winning four Australian Open titles, he grabbed Wimbledon and US Open twice.

His 2008 victorious Wimbledon final clash against on-court rival Roger Federer is considered as the greatest of all time.