Tennis legend Rafael Nadal confirmed his retirement from tennis, with the upcoming Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month set to be his last professional event. It's only fitting that the Spaniard will retire at the event where he became the youngest man to win the Davis Cup two decades ago, at 14. Nadal had been battling persistent injuries that kept him away from the tour last two seasons, but still, he'd retire as the second-most-successful player in Open Era, only after Novak Djokovic. 

The 38-year-old won 22 grand slam titles, including 14 French Open for which he is also known as King of Clay. Moreover, Nadal achieved the rarest feat in the sport, winning gold at the Olympics and also completing the career slam. 

"It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make," Nadal said in a video. "But, in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. I think it is the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined." 

To mark the end of an all-time great sporting journey, we look at the greatest moment of Nadal's career. 

The Beginning Of Dominance 

Making his tournament debut at the age of 19 Roland Garros 2005, Rafael Nadal surprised everyone by winning the entire thing, beating Mariano Puerta in the final. He became the youngest winner of the French Open. This victory laid the foundation for his unparalleled dominance on clay, and he would go on to win a record 14 titles at the French Open. 

Gold At Beijing 

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Nadal reached a monumental achievement by winning the gold medal in the men's singles event. Facing off against Fernando Gonzalez in a riveting final match, Nadal exhibited his unwavering mental fortitude and endurance to emerge victorious in a gruelling contest. This triumph not only cemented his reputation as one of the premier players of his era but also introduced an Olympic gold medal to his already impressive collection of accolades. 

Australian Open 2008 - No Longer A One-Trick Pony 

Nadal's dominance at clay stood in contrast with his game on hard-court game, where success eluded him. But that changed with his triumph at the Australian Open in 2009, his first major title outside of the French Open. In a thrilling final against his rival Roger Federer, Nadal displayed his versatility by adapting his game to the fast hard courts of Melbourne. With this victory, Nadal became only the fourth player in the Open Era to win Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces. 

Equalling Roger Federer's Record 

Nadal's career is deeply entwined with Federer. Although the Swiss led the way, the Spaniard finally did the unthinkable by equalling him for 20 grand slams. It arrived in Paris four years ago, of course, where Nadal demolished Novak Djokovic in straight sets. 

Rafael Nadal Finishes Off At 22 

At the dusk of his long career, when all hopes had withered for an injury-ridden career to have a second gasp, Nadal produced a remarkable display of athleticism to win the French Open 2022 title for a record 14th time. Unfortunately, that would go on to his last grand slam.