After 23 years on the professional Tour, the 22-time Major winner Rafael Nadal will end his career at this week's Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. The veteran could not regain his old magic following a severe left hip injury, giving everything this season but calling it a career.
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Nadal's retirement is in the spotlight of this week's competition in Malaga, although we still need to find out if he will embrace the action on the court and fight against the Netherlands on Tuesday. Rafa places the team above his retirement, admitting he will not play if he can not fight for a win.
Will Roger Federer be in Malaga this week?
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray should be in Malaga, and true tennis fans wanted to see Roger Federer celebrating his great friend's career as well. However, Rafa revealed he had not spoken with Roger about his potential Malagaarrival, citing the Swiss' busy schedule.
The Spaniard refused to draw aparallelwith the 2022LaverCup when he traveled to London to play alongside the Swiss in Roger's final match in a career. Rafa labeledthese two scenarios as completely different, reminding everyonethat Roger and he competed in the same team in London.
That could not have been the case in Malaga, and the 22-time Major winner did not want to make a big deal of it, focusing on Spain's result. Roger reacted toRafa'sretirement post a couple of weeks ago, hoping that day would never come.
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Federerthanked fellow legend for incredible achievementsand memories they shared on the court, describingtheirjourneyasan absolute honor. They met for the first time in Indian Wells 2004 and forged one of the greatest rivalries in the history of sport after battling 40 times between 2004 and 2019.
Roger andRafashare the court on an emotionalLaverCup night
Federer suffered a knee injury at the beginning of 2020, returning in March next year and playing a couple of tournaments. However, the pain would not disappear, and the legend underwent a third surgery after Wimbledon, never playing singles matches again.
The Swiss Maestro arranged his retirement for the 2022 Laver Cup in London, asking Nadal to share the court with him in the doubles match. Rafa could not refuse such an offer despite injuries and setbacks, traveling to London and competing alongside his good friend for the final time.
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Federer and Nadal met Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock at packed O2 Arena and experienced a tight 4-6, 6-2, 11-9 defeat after wasting a match point. It was one of the most emotional nights in tennis history, with legends and everyone from Team Europe and Team World celebrating Roger's incredible career.
Federer embraced a heartfelt post-match ceremony, thanking his teammates on the bench and crying alongside Nadal in memorable scenes. Rafa should expect something similar in Malaga, and we are yet to find out who will be there to honor his unique tennis journey that raised our sport to a higher level.
"The situation is different. I went to London to compete at the Laver Cup alongside Roger; we were teammates. I did not talk to Roger about his potential arrival in Malaga this week as he has a busy schedule. However, this is my final week as a player but not my last goodbye to the sport," Rafael Nadal said.
