Video: Rafael Nadal Reveals He Knew Career Was 'Over' After 2024 Olympics amid Injury

Rafael Nadal said Monday during an appearance on Andy Roddick's Served podcast that he knew his career was over after the 2024 Olympics.

"I was not able to move the way that I was used to moving," he said (13:05 mark). "So after that Olympics, I came back home and said, 'OK, it's over. I feel it.' Before I didn't feel it, I wanted to give myself time. After that I said, 'OK, it doesn't make sense anymore. With these issues, I don't feel like I'll come back being competitive at the level that motivates me.' When I felt that, for me, it was over."

Nadal had battled a number of injuries later in his career, limiting his appearances and the overall quality of his play.

After winning the Australian Open and French Open in 2022, bringing his Grand Slam total up to 22 for his career, he was never able to stay consistently healthy or match his previous highs.

Once he failed to advance past the second round of the Paris Games in 2024, losing to long-time rival Novak Djokovic, it appeared the end was near. Shortly after, in Oct. 2024, he announced his retirement, with his final match coming at the Davis Cup Finals in Málaga.

Despite the difficult final years, it was nonetheless one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport. The rivalries between Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer represented the golden age of men's tennis and provided some of the most high-profile and thrilling matches the sport has ever seen.