One event separates Rafael Nadal from his retirement from professional tennis. The Davis Cup Finals - which will take place in Malaga in the second half of September - will be an opportunity for fans to greet one of the best athletes of all time. At 38, the Spanish legend has decided that it is time to start a new chapter in his life without any regrets. The former world number 1 has squeezed his body considerably during his career and continued to play despite the persistent injuries, which have become increasingly serious in the last two years.
After winning the French Open in 2022, Rafa was unable to play with the right consistency due to physical problems and he has been moving further and further away from the top positions of the ATP ranking. Everyone knew 2024 would be his last dance, but fans hoped that the 22-time Grand Slam champion would achieve more prestigious results.
His best result this year was the final on red clay by Bastad, lost to a second-tier player like Nuno Borges. The legend from Manacor did not even shine at the French Open and the Olympics in Paris, an additional reason to think about his future well and make the decision not to continue playing.
Having not played much in recent months, some fans and insiders thought that Rafa would ask for a wild card to play an official tournament before the Davis Cup Finals. After the Olympics this summer, the former world number 1 has played only an exhibition as the 'Six Kings Slam'. Nadal was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in Saudi Arabia, not looking competitive to play in singles a month from now. The Spaniards fans had hoped that he would return to Paris to play in the last Masters 1000 of the season, but this will not happen.
Rafa wont be in Paris
Speaking with Eurosport, Cedric Pioline - director of the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000 - spoke about Rafa: It is true that it was a real option for him to come to Paris to play games, a form of logic given that the Davis Cup will be his final curtain, but no, he has not made any request.
For this reason, the 14-time French Open champion will only return to action at the Davis Cup Finals in a month. Nadal will practice very intensively and try to be ready for the last big event of his career, in which Spain will go on a hunt for victory. Having participated in the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia last week, the Spaniard had the chance to face Novak Djokovic for the last time and exchange very affectionate words with him. Their rivalry was among the most iconic in the history of modern sport and ended at the Paris Olympics with the victory of the Serbian ace.
Nadal opens up on Djokovic
In a long interview with 'AS', the 22-time Grand Slam champion opened up on Noles current status: "As for Djokovic, I don't know. I think it's human that Novak, even if he's still healthy, is of a certain age and it's logical that the clock takes its toll on all of us and that, once Federer has gone, once I'm gone, since we've been his two great rivals, at some point he also has a small mental breakdown and will find a reason to step aside.
That's what happens to everyone. And Novak is good enough to, if he's healthy, continue to be competitive at the highest level and aspire to win the most important tournaments. And if he's still happy doing what he does, he'll keep doing it. If at some point, everything he has to do to have a chance of continuing to be at the highest level is no longer worth it, then he'll step aside, that's what I think.
Although his career is coming to an end, Rafa hopes he can be useful to his team in Malaga in about a month. When youre passionate about what you do, its very difficult to retire being 100% and winning. I just hope Im healthy enough and prepared to enjoy the moment and try to help the team he said. In 2004, for the Davis, I had my first great joy as a professional tennis player. And finish again in a final stage of the Cup, for me its a good way. And hopefully it can end positively, regardless of whether I play or not he concluded. The most likely scenario is that Alcaraz and Bautista Agut play in singles, while Rafa will be playing in doubles.
