Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem headline late-season retirements in 2024 | ATP Tour

Better of 2024

Nadal, Thiem headline late-season retirements in 2024

Learn Half 2 of our 2024 ‘Finest Of’ Retirements characteristic

December 08, 2024

To mark the top of one other thrilling season, ATPTour.com is unveiling our annual ‘Finest Of’ collection, which can mirror on essentially the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and extra. Icons Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem lead Half 2 of our ‘Finest Of’ retirements story whereas Andy Murray was featured in Half 1.

Rafael NadalIt was a Spanish sendoff for not solely a rustic’s hero, nor only a tennis icon, however somewhat a sporting legend. Nadal competed in his ultimate skilled occasion in November on the Davis Cup Closing 8. The 38-year-old, surrounded by teammates, family and friends, wiped away tears whereas addressing the group throughout an on-court ceremony.

Among the best to ever compete on the ATP Tour, Nadal’s ultimate match was a singles rubber defeat towards Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. To the loud tune of Spanish chants like ‘Vamos Rafa!’, Nadal utilized the ending touches to his profession, preventing his hardest till the bitter finish.

“It’s been an emotional day,” Nadal stated after his ultimate match. “I knew it may very well be my final match as knowledgeable tennis participant. The moments main as much as it have been emotional, sort of troublesome to deal with, basically. So many feelings. I attempted to do it in addition to doable.”

Nadal’s sportsmanship and style in each victory and defeat endeared him to followers worldwide. That humility was once more on show when Nadal stated in his farewell speech, “I’m the one who ought to be grateful… to so many individuals that it’s troublesome to know the place to start out.”

There aren’t any phrases to thanks sufficient for what you’ve carried out to the game.

Gracias, Rafa ❤️@RafaelNadal | #RafaSiempre

pic.twitter.com/PsYuuPbwGb

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 19, 2024

Nadal’s two-decade profession was outlined by aggressive excellence and relentless willpower. He set benchmarks that will by no means be surpassed, together with a rare document of 14 Roland Garros titles. He spent 209 weeks as No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings, received 1,080 matches and lifted a whopping 92 tour-level titles.

A number of Nadal’s information appear as if they might go untouched for an eternity. He received an ATP Tour title in a document 19 straight seasons (2004-22) and earned a document 23 wins vs. World No. 1s. He was ranked within the Prime 10 for a document 912 consecutive weeks (2005-23). At ATP Masters 1000 occasions, Nadal earned a document 410 victories and second-most titles (36).

The Spaniard turned the primary males’s participant in historical past to finish the Profession Grand Slam twice. He additionally received two Olympic gold medals (2008 Beijing singles, 2016 Rio doubles w/M. Lopez) and helped Spain win the Davis Cup 4 occasions.

“I believe as a tennis participant, I simply need to be remembered for the outcomes I had. As an individual, I hope to be remembered as a optimistic instance of being respectful, well-mannered, and a superb individual,” Nadal stated earlier this 12 months. Learn Nadal Longform Tribute.

Dominic ThiemThere was a buzz at Thiem’s residence event, the Erste Financial institution Open in Vienna, because the Austrian tennis hero stated goodbye to the game.

“Once I suppose again on my profession, the primary feelings are actually large gratitude for every thing I used to be capable of expertise,” Thiem stated. “I used to be very fortunate to remain wholesome [most of] the time to have the ability to realise mainly all my goals. And yeah, I used to be by no means anticipating a profession like that once I was younger. All I wished was to be knowledgeable tennis participant, no matter comes with it.”

The 31-year-old received the 2020 US Open and likewise reached the ultimate of three different Slams. Thiem received a complete of 17 tour-level titles, achieved a career-high PIF ATP Rating of No. 3 and was ensconced within the Prime 10 for the higher a part of six years.

Thiem achieved such success in arguably essentially the most troublesome period of tennis, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic not relinquishing their spots atop the game. The one gamers with higher Lexus ATP Head2Head information than Thiem towards Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are… the Massive Three themselves.

One key win for Thiem got here towards Federer at Indian Wells in 2019. It was an exhilarating championship match, which Thiem mirrored on by saying, ‘Roger was toying with me’, within the early levels of the ultimate. However the Austrian discovered his finest degree and claimed on the time what was his largest title. It was Thiem’s lone ATP Masters 1000 triumph.

Thiem’s 2020 US Open triumph was sealed with a two-sets-to-love comeback towards Alexander Zverev. The Austrian stormed again and escaped the German 7-6 in a nervy fifth set from each gamers. It was unusually eerie inside Arthur Ashe Stadium as the ultimate happened on the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the entire event was carried out with no followers on web site. There was no raucous crowd to assist flip nerves into power. Moderately, it was a white-knuckle journey to the end that featured Thiem incomes one of many largest moments of his profession. Learn Thiem Longform Tribute.

Wesley KoolhofKoolhof is aware of what it’s like to face atop the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings and be topped champion at a few of the sport’s largest occasions. The Dutchman received six ATP Masters 1000 titles — three every with Nikola Mektic and Neal Skupski, respectively — and the 2023 Wimbledon trophy (w/ Skupski).

Koolhof certified for the Nitto ATP Finals 4 occasions and received the season finale alongside Mektic in 2020. At this 12 months’s occasion in Turin, Koolhof was celebrated for his standout profession. He represented his residence nation one ultimate time in Davis Cup earlier than formally retiring.

“I don’t know what will probably be subsequent, however after taking a while off I’d love to remain in tennis,” Koolhof stated. “On this world, you meet so many individuals, and tennis has at all times been a part of my life… I’ll simply wait and see what comes across the nook, and you may see me someplace.” Learn Koolhof’s, ‘My Level’ essay.

Pablo CuevasThe highest-ranked Uruguayan in historical past (No. 19 in 2016), Cuevas’ sizzling photographs compilation video would arise towards any participant. He was a flashy shotmaker who struck the ball cleanly, as evident by his six tour-level titles. En path to his 2016 Rio de Janeiro crown, Cuevas upset Rafael Nadal in a semi-final three-setter, which was the Uruguayan’s second of three wins towards Prime 5 gamers.

Cuevas, who introduced his retirement in September, additionally received 9 doubles titles, together with Roland Garros in 2008 with Luis Horna. He lifted two ATP Masters 1000 doubles trophies: 2015 Rome with David Marrero and 2017 Monte-Carlo with Rohan Bopanna.

“Once I was a boy, I didn’t know what it meant to be a tennis participant, and I didn’t have a rating in thoughts that I wished to succeed in, I simply wished it to be my job,” Cuevas stated. “Then it turned far more, being Prime 100, Prime 50, profitable tournaments, however it was at all times about far more than the numbers… It was what I loved doing and I used to be capable of take pleasure in myself loads alongside the way in which.” Learn Cuevas Retirement Function.

Filip KrajinovicKrajinovic fought again tears as he performed his ultimate match within the US Open qualifying. The Serbian reached a career-high World No. 26, competed in 5 ATP Tour finals and defeated 4 Prime 10 opponents. The profession spotlight that stands out essentially the most to Krajinovic is his run to the ultimate of the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters, his lone championship match at an ATP Masters 1000 occasion.

“I’m very proud. I am very happy with my profession,” Krajinovic stated. “The one factor the place I am just a little bit unhappy is I did not win an ATP Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem headline late-season retirements in 2024 | ATP Tour. I had 5 finals, 5 robust finals. That is the one factor I wished to have, however did not occur for some cause. However every thing else I might signal [for] as a result of I believe I performed the way in which I wished. I had superb outcomes and my highest was 26, which I actually admire. I left the courtroom completely happy, as a result of I believe that I did properly.” Learn Krajinovic Retirement Function.

Donald YoungIn the final occasion of his profession, Younger partnered WTA participant Taylor Townsend to a dream run to the US Open blended doubles ultimate. The previous No. 38 within the PIF ATP Rankings bade farewell to a profession through which he reached two tour-level finals. Born in Chicago, Younger made a splash as a junior No. 1, a rating he achieved at simply 15 years previous.

The lefty earned tour-level wins towards the likes of Andy Murray, Gael Monfils and Tomas Berdych. He twice reached the fourth spherical of his residence Slam and confronted every member of the ‘Massive Three’ at main tournaments. Younger will always remember his time on Tour.

“It simply modified the trajectory of my life, my household’s life,” Younger stated. “And for that, I am positively indebted and grateful to tennis.” Learn Younger Retirement Function.