The Davis Cup Finals will start in Malaga tomorrow and it will be the ideal opportunity to say goodbye to Rafael Nadal. The Spanish legend leaves professional tennis after an almost unrepeatable career, in which he exceeded his limits several times and proved to be one of the best athletes ever.
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The 22-time Grand Slam champion has practiced well in recent days and is ready to play, but the decision on his role will be up to Spanish captain David Ferrer. The former world No. 1 wants to help 'his' Spain lift the trophy, preventing everyone's attention from shifting solely to Rafa's retirement.
The 14-time French Open champion has no regrets and has accepted the idea of retirement with serenity, having realized that he could no longer compete at the level he wants. The legend from Manacor reflected on the possibility of playing some tournaments in 2025 as well, but he understood that it would not make sense and that he would risk suffering new injuries.
Rafa's results in 2024 have been disappointing for a player of his caliber, especially at Roland Garros and the Paris Olympics. Nadal seemed very slow in his movements and far from ideal shape, suffering several defeats against second-tier players.
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Spain will face Netherlands
Spain will make its debut against Netherlands tomorrow and it is not yet clear whether the former world No. 1 will play singles or doubles. Rafa has practiced a lot in recent days and has appeared in good condition, although he has not played an official match since the Olympic tournament last August.
During the press conference before Spains debut in Malaga, the 22-time Grand Slam champion spoke about his upcoming retirement: Good. I mean, something that I have been thinking for quite a long time, you know, some on-and-offs during the season. But I tried always to give me one more chance.
But, yeah, something that I decided with time. So Im enjoying the week. No, no, Im not putting much attention to that. I know its going to be a big change in my life, but thats going to happen later after this week. Now I am here on the team, and I am very excited. I am happy for that.
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The 14-time French Open champion has had to miss many important tournaments due to injuries and his trophy cabinet would have been even larger if his body had spared him.
The Spanish legend however - has no remorse: I mean, everybody makes mistakes. Everybody when arrive the end of a long career, of course, at the end I will change things that I did, I will do things that I will change to try to be better and to try to avoid things, but at the end, I achieved the most important thing for me, no, because arrived this day and I am in peace that I give all what I had, and I played and I practiced since I was eight years old, seven I mean, I started at three but in that age, I started to work more and more with passion, with love, and with the determination to be as good as possible, no.
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I am not the kind of guy that I will say, no, I will not change things, because for me it looks arrogant. Of course I will change things, but one thing have been so important for me, because I gonna leave this professional tour with the calm and with the personal satisfaction that I give my best almost in every single moment.
No new injuries
Nadal has been a huge protagonist of the Davis Cup in the past, especially with the traditional format of the competition. The former world No. 1 has always been proud to represent Spain, for which he also won the gold medal in singles at Beijing 2008 and the gold medal in doubles at Rio de Janeiro 2016.
During the press conference, Rafa clarified that he had not suffered any new injuries: No, no, not new injury. Its about the things that I went through, and, I mean, with the surgery last year, and I dont gonna add the rest of the things that I had, but a few ones, make me feel that I cannot be enough competitive, and I am not able to enjoy my daily basis the way that I need to be competitive at the highest level, no?
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So at the end of the day, all relate to the question of myself is about, okay, I can hold for one more year, but why? To say good-bye in every single tournament, I dont have that ego to need that.
