Top Highlights of 2024 Nadal and Thiem among prominent late-season retirements in 2024 Explore Part 2 of our ‘Top Highlights’ Retirements feature for 2024 December 08, 2024 Matt McNulty/Getty Images Rafael Nadal said farewell to professional tennis in November. By ATP Staff As another exhilarating season comes to a close, ATPTour.com introduces our yearly ‘Top […]
Top Highlights of 2024
Nadal and Thiem among prominent late-season retirements in 2024
Explore Part 2 of our ‘Top Highlights’ Retirements feature for 2024
December 08, 2024
Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Rafael Nadal said farewell to professional tennis in November.
By ATP Staff
As another exhilarating season comes to a close, ATPTour.com introduces our yearly ‘Top Highlights’ series, focusing on the most captivating rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and more. Legends Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem are at the forefront of Part 2 of our ‘Top Highlights’ retirements while Andy Murray featured in Part 1.
Rafael Nadal
The farewell took place in Spain for not only a national hero but also a tennis legend. Nadal played his concluding professional match in November at the Davis Cup Final 8. The 38-year-old, amidst teammates, friends, and family, was emotional during an on-court ceremony while addressing the audience.
As one of the greatest competitors in ATP Tour history, Nadal’s last match was a singles rubber loss to Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp. With passionate Spanish chants like ‘Vamos Rafa!’ echoing, Nadal closed his illustrious career, giving his all until the final moment.
“It’s been a poignant day,” Nadal reflected after his final match. “I was aware this could be my last outing as a professional tennis player. The moments leading up were emotional and somewhat challenging to cope with overall. So many feelings. I aimed to handle it as best as I could.”
Nadal’s sportsmanship and dignity, whether in triumph or loss, won him fans globally. This humility shone through once more in his farewell address: “I’m the one who should express gratitude… to so many individuals that it’s tough to know where to begin.”
Words will never suffice to express how thankful we are for all you’ve contributed to the sport.
Gracias, Rafa ❤️@RafaelNadal | #RafaSiempre
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 19, 2024
Nadal’s twenty-year career was characterized by remarkable competitiveness and unwavering resolve. He set standards that may remain unmatched, exemplified by his incredible 14 Roland Garros titles. Over the course of his career, he occupied the No. 1 spot in the PIF ATP Rankings for 209 weeks, recorded 1,080 match victories, and secured an impressive total of 92 tour-level titles.
Many of Nadal’s records appear destined to stand the test of time. He achieved an ATP Tour title in an unprecedented 19 consecutive seasons (2004-22) and claimed a record 23 victories over World No. 1s. Nadal maintained a position in the Top 10 for an astonishing 912 consecutive weeks (2005-23). At ATP Masters 1000 events, he holds the record for 410 wins and ranks second for titles (36).
Nadal was the first male player in history to realize the Career Grand Slam twice. He also celebrated two Olympic gold medals (2008 Beijing singles, 2016 Rio doubles with M. Lopez) and played a vital role in Spain’s four Davis Cup victories.
“I think as a tennis athlete, I wish to be remembered for the achievements I attained. As a person, I hope to be seen as a positive example of respect, good manners, and being a decent individual,” Nadal said earlier this year. Read Nadal’s Longform Tribute.
Dominic Thiem
Excitement filled the air at Thiem’s home event, the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, as the Austrian tennis star officially bid adieu to the sport.
“When reflecting on my career, overwhelming emotions are filled with immense gratitude for all that I experienced,” Thiem noted. “I was fortunate to remain mostly healthy to achieve nearly all my dreams. Never did I anticipate a career like this when I was young. My only aspiration was to become a professional tennis player, whatever that entailed.”
The 31-year-old clinched the 2020 US Open and reached the finals of three additional Grand Slams. Thiem amassed 17 tour-level trophies, attained a peak PIF ATP Ranking of No. 3, and spent a significant duration within the Top 10 for nearly six years.
Thiem achieved remarkable success during arguably the most challenging period in tennis, amidst legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic firmly holding their places at the top. The only players with superior Lexus ATP Head2Head records against Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic are… the Big Three themselves.
A significant victory for Thiem was against Federer at Indian Wells in 2019. It was a nail-biting championship match, which Thiem later reflected on, stating, ‘Roger was playing with me’ during the initial phases of the final. However, the Austrian stepped up his game and secured what was then the most significant title of his career. It marked Thiem’s sole ATP Masters 1000 victory.
Thiem’s 2020 US Open victory came after a comeback from two sets down against Alexander Zverev. Thiem rallied and prevailed over the German 7-6 in a tense fifth set. The atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium was eerie as the final occurred during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the entire tournament being held without spectators. The absence of a raucous audience that typically fuels players was replaced by a gripping tension that culminated in Thiem achieving one of his career’s pivotal moments. Read Thiem’s Longform Tribute.
Wesley Koolhof
Koolhof has experienced the thrill of reaching the top of the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings and securing victory at some of tennis’s biggest events. The Dutch player accumulated six ATP Masters 1000 titles — three each with Nikola Mektic and Neal Skupski — as well as winning the 2023 Wimbledon trophy (with Skupski).
Koolhof qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals on four occasions and clinched the year-end finale alongside Mektic back in 2020. During this year’s event in Turin, Koolhof was honored for his exceptional career. He represented his native country for the last time in the Davis Cup before formally retiring.
“I’m uncertain about what lies ahead, but after taking a break, I would love to remain involved in tennis,” Koolhof shared. “This sport brings numerous people into your life, and tennis has continuously been part of my journey… I’ll wait to see what opportunities arise, and you can expect to see me somewhere.” Read Koolhof’s, ‘My Point’ essay.
Pablo Cuevas
The highest-ranked player from Uruguay in history (No. 19 in 2016), Cuevas’ compilation of dazzling shots would rival any player’s highlight reel. He was a dynamic shotmaker who consistently struck the ball with precision, as showcased by his six tour-level titles. During his journey to the 2016 crown in Rio de Janeiro, he achieved an upset victory over Rafael Nadal in a three-set semifinal, marking the Uruguayan’s second of three wins against Top 5 opponents.
Having announced his retirement in September, Cuevas also won nine doubles titles, which included claiming Roland Garros in 2008 in partnership with Luis Horna. He also secured two ATP Masters 1000 doubles titles: 2015 Rome with David Marrero and 2017 Monte-Carlo with Rohan Bopanna.
“As a young boy, I had no understanding of what it meant to be a tennis player, nor did I have a specific ranking goal in mind; I simply wanted it to be my profession,” Cuevas remarked. “Then it transcended into much more, becoming Top 100, Top 50, winning titles, but it was always about a lot more than numbers… It was about what I loved doing, and I was able to really enjoy the journey.” Read Cuevas Retirement Feature.
Filip Krajinovic
Krajinovic fought back his emotions while playing his farewell match in the US Open qualifying rounds. The Serbian achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 26, competed in five ATP Tour finals, and triumphed over four Top 10 adversaries. The highlight of his career remains his run to the final of the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters, which marked his only championship match at an ATP Masters 1000 event.
“I am incredibly proud. I take great pride in my career,” Krajinovic stated. “What saddens me a bit is that I didn’t capture an ATP [title]. I reached five finals, all challenging ones. That’s the only thing I wished for but didn’t manage to accomplish for some reason. However, I’m satisfied with everything else because I believe I played as I wanted. My highest ranking was 26, which I hold in high regard. I left the court feeling content, knowing I performed well.” Read Krajinovic Retirement Feature.
Donald Young
In the closing event of his career, Young teamed up with WTA player Taylor Townsend for a memorable journey to the US Open mixed doubles final. The former No. 38 in the PIF ATP Rankings concluded a career that included appearances in two tour-level finals. Originally from Chicago, Young made a significant impact as a junior No. 1, achieving that ranking at the age of just 15.
The left-handed player secured tour-level victories against notable names like Andy Murray, Gael Monfils, and Tomas Berdych. He advanced to the fourth round of his home Grand Slam on two occasions and faced every member of the ‘Big Three’ at various major tournaments. Young will carry the memories of his Tour experiences with him forever.
“Tennis significantly altered the course of my life and my family’s life,” Young said. “For that, I am deeply grateful to the sport.” Read Young Retirement Feature.
