Better of 2024
Nadal, Thiem headline late-season retirements in 2024
Learn Half 2 of our 2024 ‘Finest Of’ Retirements characteristic
December 08, 2024
Matt McNulty/Getty Pictures
Rafael Nadal retired from professional tennis in November.
By ATP Employees
To mark the tip of one other thrilling season, ATPTour.com is unveiling our annual ‘Finest Of’ sequence, which can replicate 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 Nadal
It 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 Remaining 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 finest to ever compete on the ATP Tour, Nadal’s ultimate match was a singles rubber defeat in opposition to 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 might be my final match as knowledgeable tennis participant. The moments main as much as it had been emotional, sort of tough to deal with, basically. So many feelings. I attempted to do it in addition to attainable.”
Nadal’s sportsmanship and charm 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 must be grateful… to so many individuals that it’s tough to know the place to begin.”
There aren’t any phrases to thanks sufficient for what you’ve carried out to the game.
Gracias, Rafa ❤️@RafaelNadal | #RafaSiempre
— 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 report of 14 Roland Garros titles. He spent 209 weeks as No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings, gained 1,080 matches and lifted a whopping 92 tour-level titles.
A bunch of Nadal’s information appear as if they may go untouched for an eternity. He gained an ATP Tour title in a report 19 straight seasons (2004-22) and earned a report 23 wins vs. World No. 1s. He was ranked within the High 10 for a report 912 consecutive weeks (2005-23). At ATP Masters 1000 occasions, Nadal earned a report 410 victories and second-most titles (36).
The Spaniard grew to become the primary males’s participant in historical past to finish the Profession Grand Slam twice. He additionally gained two Olympic gold medals (2008 Beijing singles, 2016 Rio doubles w/M. Lopez) and helped Spain win the Davis Cup 4 instances.
“I feel 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 individual,” Nadal stated earlier this yr. Learn Nadal Longform Tribute.
Dominic Thiem
There was a buzz at Thiem’s residence match, the Erste Financial institution Open in Vienna, because the Austrian tennis hero stated goodbye to the game.
“After I suppose again on my profession, the primary feelings are actually huge gratitude for the whole lot I used to be in a position to 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 after I was younger. All I wished was to be knowledgeable tennis participant, no matter comes with it.”
The 31-year-old gained the 2020 US Open and in addition reached the ultimate of three different Slams. Thiem gained a complete of 17 tour-level titles, achieved a career-high PIF ATP Rating of No. 3 and was ensconced within the High 10 for the higher a part of six years.
Thiem achieved such success in arguably essentially the most tough 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 in opposition to Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are… the Huge Three themselves.
One key win for Thiem got here in opposition to Federer at Indian Wells in 2019. It was an exciting 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 greatest stage and claimed on the time what was his greatest 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 in opposition to 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 came about on the top of the Covid-19 pandemic and the entire match was performed with no followers on website. There was no raucous crowd to assist flip nerves into vitality. Somewhat, it was a white-knuckle experience to the end that featured Thiem incomes one of many greatest moments of his profession. Learn Thiem Longform Tribute.
Wesley Koolhof
Koolhof is aware of what it’s like to face atop the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings and be topped champion at a number of the sport’s greatest occasions. The Dutchman gained 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 instances and gained the season finale alongside Mektic in 2020. At this yr’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 might 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 will see me someplace.” Learn Koolhof’s, ‘My Level’ essay.
Pablo Cuevas
The best-ranked Uruguayan in historical past (No. 19 in 2016), Cuevas’ sizzling pictures compilation video would get up in opposition to 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 in opposition to High 5 gamers.
Cuevas, who introduced his retirement in September, additionally gained 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.
“After 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 achieve, I simply wished it to be my job,” Cuevas stated. “Then it grew to become rather more, being High 100, High 50, profitable tournaments, but it surely was at all times about rather more than the numbers… It was what I loved doing and I used to be in a position to take pleasure in myself loads alongside the way in which.” Learn Cuevas Retirement Characteristic.
Filip Krajinovic
Krajinovic 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 High 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 powerful finals. That is the one factor I wished to have, however did not occur for some purpose. However the whole lot else I’d signal [for] as a result of I feel I performed the way in which I wished. I had superb outcomes and my highest was 26, which I actually recognize. I left the courtroom joyful, as a result of I feel that I did properly.” Learn Krajinovic Retirement Characteristic.
Donald Younger
Within the final occasion of his profession, Younger partnered WTA participant Taylor Townsend to a dream run to the US Open combined doubles ultimate. The previous No. 38 within the PIF ATP Rankings bade farewell to a profession during 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 outdated.
The lefty earned tour-level wins in opposition to 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 ‘Huge 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 Characteristic.