There comes a time in every tennis player’s life when the racket feels heavier than the dream. For ATP star Pedro Cachin, that time has come. The Argentine, once ranked No. 48 in the world, has announced his retirement at just 30. This all came after years of injuries and the grind of the tour that finally caught up with him.

Cachin shared the news on Instagram, posting a black-and-white photo of himself along with snapshots from some of his most memorable matches. He wrote, “48 in the world it’s said easily, but it’s not. For many, it’s just a number. For me, it’s hours of training, travel, competition, sweat, and experiences.” Starting tennis at the age of five and turning professional in 2013, for Cachin, it was the right time to step away.

During his career, Pedro Cachin won six Challenger Tour titles and one ATP title at the 2023 Swiss Open in Gstaad. Nevertheless, he never forgot the more challenging times, such as traveling by himself to minor competitions and contending with various challenges. “It was an unforgettable journey with many lessons along the way and a clear goal which at many times seemed blurry or far away, but in the end we succeeded,” he said, thanking all the people who supported him along the way.

Cachin also had the chance to face the giants of the sport. Matches against Rafael Nadal in Madrid and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon are memories he will always treasure. One image that stands out is Madrid 2024, during his penultimate season, where he battled Nadal at the Caja Magica. The match ended 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3, but the score didn’t capture the real moment. After the match, Cachin approached Nadal at the net and shyly asked for a keepsake, a shirt or towel, which Nadal graciously gave him.

“I was privileged to have competed in the best tournaments and courts in the world, Rafa in Madrid, Novak at Wimbledon, play in the Davis Cup, win an ATP—among others,” he shared, showing the human side of the sport he loved. In his farewell, Cachin spoke about leaving with pride. “I leave the court with my head held high. I gave everything I had,” Pedro Cachine wrote, emphasizing that tennis is more than titles. Even in retirement, he plans to remain involved in tennis. “Needless to say, I will continue to be an ally to this sport, because it is the passion that awakens me every day,” he said.

Pedro Cachin may have retired from professional tennis, but the memories, experiences, and determination he leaves behind will keep his legacy alive for years to come. But why did he retire?

Why Pedro Cachin’s tennis journey came to an end

He might not have retired if it weren’t for the physical struggles that have plagued him for years. In 2016, Pedro Cachin qualified for his first ATP Tour main draw in Barcelona, only to feel sharp pain in his upper back, later diagnosed as a stress fracture of a vertebra. Even after returning, pain lingered, and momentum was hard to build. But struggles kept getting worse,

In 2019, he tore a ligament in his ankle and finished the season on a ten-match losing streak. Though he occasionally broke through from the Challenger and qualifier circuits, the ATP main draws remained a constant challenge. Before his memorable match against Rafael Nadal in Madrid 2024, Cachin reportedly began the season 0‑11, showing how relentless the tour had been. By 2025, the toll was clear.

The 30-year-old Argentine had been battling his worst physical issues for more than a year, and his ranking had dropped to World No. 665, far from his career peak. Even facing legends like Nadal and Djokovic came at a cost. After Wimbledon 2023, Pedro Cachin admitted, “I played terribly … I didn’t enjoy anything, I wanted to leave as soon as possible.”

The decision to step away from professional tennis was born not from a lack of love for the sport, but from years of battling his own body, making the choice to retire inevitable, even if emotionally complicated.