The 9 oldest Grand Slam men’s singles champions to retire – ft. Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer
After winning 22 Grand Slam singles titles and spending 209 weeks as world No 1, Rafael Nadal called time on his legendary career at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.
Nadal’s career was longer than most, with the Spaniard playing well past his 38th birthday – making him one of the oldest Grand Slam singles champions to retire.
Based on their age at their last recognised ATP Tour singles event, we look at the nine oldest men’s singles major winners to say goodbye to the sport.
9) Stan Smith – 38 years, 2 months, 7 days
An early great of the Open Era, Smith won the US Open in 1971 and Wimbledon in 1972, and was recognised as the world No 1 in unofficial rankings at the height of his career.
Following a career that saw him win 64 singles and 54 doubles titles, the US star played his last singles match in February 1985 – two months past his 38th birthday.
8) Rafael Nadal – 38 years, 5 months, 18 days
Nadal called time on his career at the Davis Cup this week, after winning 22 Grand Slam singles titles and spending 209 weeks as the ATP world No 1.
The 38-year-old played his final singles match on Tuesday, a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp – with Spain ultimately unable to make it past the Netherlands.
7) Ilie Nastase – 39 years, 2 months, 21 days
The first official world No 1 in ATP history, Nastase was victorious at the 1972 US Open and 1973 French Open, alongside winning three Grand Slam doubles titles.
Two months past his 39th birthday, the Romanian’s career ended at the Grand Prix de Tenis de Toulouse in October 1985.
6) Roger Federer – 39 years, 10 months, 20 days
Though Federer’s 2022 Laver Cup campaign brought a close to his career, his official singles retirement is recognised as Wimbledon in 2021.
After a career which saw him win 20 Grand Slam singles titles and spend 310 weeks as world No 1, the Swiss played his last official match at SW19 three years ago, falling to Hubert Hurkacz.
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5) Guillermo Vilas – 40 years, 0 months, 28 days
A former world No 2 and four-time Grand Slam champion, Vilas’ professional career spanned a staggering 24 years.
The Argentine had just hit 40 when he played the last ATP-level event of his career in September 1992, losing in the opening round in Bordeaux.
4) Rod Laver – 40 years, 8 months, 13 days
A true icon of tennis, Laver’s career spanned the amateur and professional eras, winning 11 Grand Slam singles titles in total.
Aged 40, ‘Rocket Rod’ played the last event of his career in Las Vegas in April 1979, losing in the opening round.
3) Jimmy Connors – 43 years, 7 months, 27 days
No one in ATP Tour history has yet matched Connors’ haul of 109 singles titles, with the American also sealing eight Grand Slam triumphs and spending 268 weeks as the world No 1.
One of the longest careers in tennis history, the US icon was 43 when he last stepped onto court for a professional match, playing in Atlanta in April 1996.
2) Thomas Muster – 44 years, 0 months, 22 days
Former world No 1 and 1995 French Open winner Muster originally retired in 1999, though made a sensational return to action in his early 40s in 2010.
The Austrian’s last official ATP match came at the Vienna Open in October 2011, when he was beaten by a young Dominic Thiem in straight sets.
1) Ken Rosewall – 45 years, 11 months, 18 days
A tennis great in the 1950s before returning in the Open Era to win more Grand Slam titles, eight-time Grand Slam singles champion Rosewall was nearly 46 when he played his last match.
‘Muscles’ called time on his epic career in October 1980 in Melbourne – over 27 years after he had won the 1953 Australian Championships.
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