Tennis great Rafael Nadal announced his impending retirement from the sport on Thursday at age 38 after winning 22 Grand Slam singles titles during an unprecedented era he shared with his rivals in the so-called Big Three, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

MALAGA, Spain — Rafael Nadal’s remarkable tennis career came to end on Tuesday and he heads into retirement after Spain lost to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals at the Davis Cup Final 8.

Rafael Nadal, one of tennis’ greatest icons, has retired at 38 following Spain’s Davis Cup exit. His illustrious career includes 22 Grand Slam titles, starting with a victorious debut at the 2005 French Open as a teenager.

Fittingly, his bookend Grand Slam titles came at Roland Garros, and it’s impossible to discuss Nadal's career without mentioning that site. Still, it’s also important to remember that he completed a career Grand Slam, earning at least two trophies at each of his sport’s four most prestigious tournaments.