Better of 2024
Nadal, Thiem headline late-season retirements in 2024
Learn Half 2 of our 2024 ‘Greatest Of’ Retirements characteristic
December 08, 2024
Matt McNulty/Getty Photographs
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 ‘Greatest Of’ sequence, 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 ‘Greatest 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 reasonably a sporting legend. Nadal competed in his ultimate skilled occasion in November on the Davis Cup Last 8. The 38-year-old, surrounded by teammates, family and friends, wiped away tears whereas addressing the gang throughout an on-court ceremony.
Probably the greatest 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, combating his hardest till the bitter finish.
“It’s been an emotional day,” Nadal mentioned after his ultimate match. “I knew it could possibly be my final match as knowledgeable tennis participant. The moments main as much as it have been emotional, form of troublesome to deal with, typically. So many feelings. I attempted to do it in addition to attainable.”
Nadal’s sportsmanship and beauty in each victory and defeat endeared him to followers worldwide. That humility was once more on show when Nadal mentioned in his farewell speech, “I’m the one who needs to be grateful… to so many individuals that it’s troublesome to know the place to start out.”
There are not any phrases to thanks sufficient for what you’ve achieved 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, received 1,080 matches and lifted a whopping 92 tour-level titles.
A bunch of Nadal’s data appear as if they may go untouched for an eternity. He received 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 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 instances.
“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 constructive instance of being respectful, well-mannered, and a very good individual,” Nadal mentioned earlier this yr. Learn Nadal Longform Tribute.
Dominic Thiem
There was a buzz at Thiem’s dwelling match, the Erste Financial institution Open in Vienna, because the Austrian tennis hero mentioned goodbye to the game.
“After I suppose again on my profession, the primary feelings are actually large gratitude for every thing I used to be capable of expertise,” Thiem mentioned. “I used to be very fortunate to remain wholesome [most of] the time to have the ability to realise principally all my desires. 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 received the 2020 US Open and in addition 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 High 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 data 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 exciting championship match, which Thiem mirrored on by saying, ‘Roger was toying with me’, within the early phases 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 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 befell 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. Reasonably, 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 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 instances and received the season finale alongside Mektic in 2020. At this yr’s occasion in Turin, Koolhof was celebrated for his standout profession. He represented his dwelling nation one ultimate time in Davis Cup earlier than formally retiring.
“I don’t know what shall be subsequent, however after taking a while off I’d love to remain in tennis,” Koolhof mentioned. “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 very best-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 High 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.
“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 mentioned. “Then it turned rather more, being High 100, High 50, profitable tournaments, however it was at all times about rather more than the numbers… It was what I loved doing and I used to be capable of take pleasure in myself loads alongside the best way.” 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 mentioned. “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 best way I wished. I had excellent outcomes and my highest was 26, which I actually respect. I left the court docket comfortable, as a result of I believe 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 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 dwelling 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 mentioned. “And for that, I am positively indebted and grateful to tennis.” Learn Younger Retirement Characteristic.