Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal is set to mark the end of his illustrious career at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga this week. The 38-year-old, whose career has been hampered by injuries in recent years, is uncertain if he will compete on the court but remains a focal point of the tournament.
Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, last led Spain to Davis Cup glory in 2019. Speaking ahead of the event, he tempered expectations about his participation.
“First off, we’ll have to see how I feel in training and, if I really don’t feel I have a chance to win the singles, I’ll be the first to not want to play,” Nadal said.
While Nadal’s role is uncertain, Spain’s hopes will rest heavily on Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion. Alcaraz, who played doubles with Nadal at the Paris Olympics this year, expressed his admiration for the retiring legend.
Nadal’s storied Davis Cup journey includes four titles and Olympic gold medals in both singles (Beijing 2008) and doubles (Rio 2016). However, injuries have taken a toll in recent years, leaving him ranked 155 in the world and sidelined since his defeat to Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics in July.
The last of Nadal’s 92 career titles was his record-extending 14th French Open win in 2022.
Spain will face the Netherlands in Tuesday’s quarter-final, with a potential semi-final clash against either Germany or Canada. The tournament will conclude next Sunday at the Martin Carpena Arena, played on indoor hard courts.
Fans and fellow players are rallying to honour Nadal’s farewell. Career rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are expected to attend, while Dutch coach Paul Haarhuis called it amazing to witness Nadal’s possible final match.
Defending champions Italy, led by Jannik Sinner, are among the favourites. Sinner, who won the ATP Finals in Turin on Sunday, is set to spearhead Italy’s campaign against Argentina in the quarter-finals.
Captained by Lleyton Hewitt, Australia will seek redemption after finishing as runners-up last year, while the United States, record 32-time champions, also remain strong contenders.
