Rafael Nadal: a career in pictures

One of the greatest tennis players of all time has announced his decision to retire next month. We look back at some memorable moments of a glittering career

A 12-year-old Rafael Nadal in 1999. Nadal was already playing on the under-14 circuit of the Europe Junior Tour.

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Though born and raised in Mallorca, Nadal is a keen Real Madrid fan. Here, he has his shirt signed by Raúl at the Madrid Masters in 2003.

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Rafael Nadal serves during the 2003 Monte Carlo Masters. That year he won his first ATP title and broke in to the top 50.

Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

2004: Nadal sprays champagne after defeating the world No 2 Andy Roddick and becoming, at 18, the youngest player to secure a singles victory in a Davis Cup final.

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Nadal poses at his home tennis club in Manacor, Mallorca.

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In 2005, a few days after his 19th birthday, Nadal won the French Open – his first grand slam title – at the first attempt.

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Nadal in action against Roger Federer during the the ‘Battle of the Surfaces’ exhibition match at the Palma Arena, Mallorca, in 2007.

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Nadal met Federer again in the 2007 French Open final, winning by three sets to one.

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Nadal got his hands on La Coupe des Mousquetaires again in 2008, after another final victory over Federer.

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Already an established master on clay, in 2008 Nadal went to Wimbledon hoping to stop Roger Federer from winning his sixth title in a row.

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Nadal and Federer met in an evenly matched final …

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… and after a marathon four hours 48 minutes, Nadal had won one of the greatest matches of all time.

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Now established as the world No 1, Nadal continued his incredible summer by winning gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Photograph: Joe Klamar/AFP/etty Images

Nadal and Roger Federer play on top of a Dhow in Doha Bay, Qatar, to launch the 2009 ATP World Tour.

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Nadal hammers a forehand against Tomas Berdych in the 2010 Wimbeldon final.

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Nadal became Wimbledon champion once again …

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

… and went on to defeat Novak Djokovic in the US Open final, completing a career ‘golden slam’ – wins in all four majors, along with the Olympics.

Photograph: Nick Laham/Getty Images

Nadal looks on as security guards restrain a protester during the 2013 French Open final, which he went on to win.

Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Sweat drops off Nadal on the hottest day of the year as he struggles in his match with Thomaz Bellucci at Wimbledon in 2015.

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Nadal serves at Wimbledon in 2018.

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Nadal collapses after coming from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in the 2019 US Open final.

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Nadal in full flow against Casper Ruud during the 2022 French Open final.

Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Nadal lifts the trophy after soundly beating Ruud, recording his 14th French Open title and the last of his 22 grand slam wins.

Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

2022: Nadal holds the hand of his friend and rival Roger Federer, just before the final match of Federer’s career at the Laver Cup in London.

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

On a speedboat flanked by Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci and Serena Williams, Nadal holds the Olympic flame as the torch is brought to Paris for the opening of the 2024 Olympic Games.

Photograph: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images

Nadal celebrates after beating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli at the Barcelona Open in April 2024.

Photograph: Pau Barrena/AFP/Getty Images