Rafael Nadal was the star of the 77th Grand Gala in Barcelona, where he received the prestigious Extraordinary trophy in recognition of his exceptional contributions to tennis and sport in general. Grateful for the honor, Nadal thanked the organization for their continuous support throughout his career. Reflecting on his retirement at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, he marked the end of a remarkable 23-year professional journey.

Now retired, Nadal is enjoying life away from the competitive circuit, cherishing time with his family and exploring new ventures. For the first time in his adult life, he is relishing his hobbies without the pressures of training, including frequent travel and recent outings on the golf course.

Ending the 2022 season ranked second, just behind his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal had a stellar start to the year, securing titles at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros, further cementing his place in the GOAT debate ahead of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. However, at Wimbledon, an abdominal injury forced him to withdraw before the semi-finals, halting his pursuit of another Grand Slam title.

The second half of 2022 proved difficult for Nadal, as he struggled with form and confidence, and his injury woes continued into early 2023. A major hip injury at the Australian Open required surgery, leading to the longest break of his career.

Determined to finish his career on his own terms, Nadal committed to intense training throughout 2023. He made his comeback at the start of 2024 by entering the ATP 250 event in Brisbane, where he reached the quarterfinals before losing to Jordan Thompson after a grueling three-and-a-half-hour match, aggravated by his hip issues.

He chose to skip the Australian Open for recovery, but in February, an abdominal injury sidelined him again until April, when he aimed to return to the clay courts, recording five wins across Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome. Unfortunately, his run at Roland Garros ended early, with a loss to Alexander Zverev, marking his earliest exit from the tournament.

Skipping the grass season, Nadal set his sights on the Olympics, competing in a pre-Olympic event in Bastad. There, he reached his first ATP final in over two years, defeating four opponents before falling to Nuno Borges in the final. At the Olympics in Paris, he triumphed in the first round over Marton Fucsovics before facing Novak Djokovic in a much-anticipated match. Despite a strong effort, Nadal lost in straight sets to Djokovic, 6-1, 6-4.

As expected, Nadal withdrew from both the US Open and the Laver Cup, announcing his retirement in October. He chose the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga as the stage for his final competitive appearance, honoring his dedication to his country two decades after his debut in 2004. In an emotional farewell, Nadal played his final match against Botic van de Zandschulp, ending his career with a 6-4 loss, bringing his extraordinary journey to a close with the respect and accolades he earned over the years.