Rafael Nadal, the esteemed Spanish tennis player with a remarkable 22 Grand Slam titles, announced on Thursday that he will retire from professional tennis at the end of the current season. The 38-year-old athlete began his professional career at just 15 years old in 2001, marking nearly 23 years on the ATP Tour before he hangs up his racquet in 2024.
Throughout his career, Nadal has accrued significant earnings, amassing close to $135 million in prize money from his 92 professional tournament victories, including both singles and doubles, as reported by the ATP Tour. With a record of 1,080 wins to just 227 losses, Nadal has benefited from prize distributions tied to tournament progression, earning money even if he did not secure the championship title.
Despite facing injury challenges in recent years, Nadal has managed to earn $301,661 in prize money thus far in 2024. He has been noted as the sixth-highest paid tennis player this year, with total earnings of $23.3 million according to Forbes, of which $20 million came from off-court activities.
Nadal has built a strong portfolio of brand partnerships over the years. He has maintained a sponsorship deal with Kia for two decades and became a brand ambassador for Infosys in 2023. His association with luxury watchmaker Richard Mille sees him donning timepieces that range from six-figure prices to millions while competing.
Additionally, Nadal collaborated with fellow tennis star Roger Federer for a campaign promoting Louis Vuitton and is also an ambassador for the Saudi Arabian Tennis Federation, which has drawn some criticism due to the country’s human rights record. This partnership reportedly brings him a seven-figure income annually.
Nadal’s long-term relationship with Nike has seen him wear their footwear and apparel from the beginning of his career, with the sports brand reportedly paying him approximately $10 million in bonuses during years when he reached the top of the world rankings, although the exact terms of their partnership remain undisclosed.