Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal is preparing for his final professional tournament at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Despite potential limitations due to recent injuries, Nadal‘s presence is eagerly anticipated.
At 38, Nadal’s career has been marked by remarkable achievements, including 22 Grand Slam titles. He aims to contribute to Spain’s pursuit of their first Davis Cup victory since 2018, a year that also marked Nadal’s fourth Davis Cup win.
Nadal acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding his physical condition and his potential role in the tournament. He emphasised his commitment to prioritising the team’s success over personal milestones.
“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 reassured fans that he has been transparent with team captain David Ferrer regarding his fitness level. His primary concern is to avoid any decisions influenced by the significance of this tournament as his last.
“If I don’t feel ready, I’ll be the first to speak to the captain (David Ferrer). I’ve already told him on a few occasions not to make any decisions based on the fact that it’s my last week as a professional tennis player.”
Spain’s hopes are bolstered by the presence of current French Open and Wimbledon champion, Carlos Alcaraz. The 21-year-old’s participation presents Nadal with a significant opportunity to conclude his career on a high note.
Alcaraz recognises the historical weight of Nadal’s farewell tournament and expressed his aspirations for a victorious conclusion. He reflected on their shared experience at the Paris Olympics, highlighting the emotional significance of this event.
“Probably one of the most special tournaments that I’m going to play. Last tournament of Rafa, I’ll be able to be next to him in the last moments on a tennis court for him.”
Alcaraz emphasised his desire for Nadal to retire as a champion, recognising the profound emotional impact of this tournament.
“I think it’s most important for Rafa, for his last tournament. I really want him to retire with a title. It’s going to be really, really emotional and a really special tournament for me.”
Nadal’s illustrious career includes Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles. He secured singles gold in Beijing in 2008 and triumphed in the doubles alongside Marc Lopez in Rio in 2016.
Despite his past successes, Nadal’s recent struggles with injuries have resulted in a decline in his ranking, which currently sits at 155. His most recent tournament victory was at the French Open in 2022, where he secured his 14th title at Roland Garros and his 22nd Grand Slam title overall.
Nadal’s last appearance in a competitive singles match was at the Paris Olympics in July, where he faced defeat against Novak Djokovic. Due to injury setbacks, he only competed in four tournaments throughout 2023.
Tennis fans and pundits are eager to witness a potential final clash between Spain, led by Alcaraz, and defending champions Italy, spearheaded by world number one Jannik Sinner. This matchup would showcase the burgeoning rivalry between these two young tennis stars.
The United States team, boasting a formidable lineup including US Open finalist Taylor Fritz, is widely considered a top contender. Their presence adds to the excitement surrounding the tournament.
Nadal’s farewell has drawn global attention, with tennis icons and athletes from various disciplines expected to attend. Among those anticipated to be present are Nadal’s long-time rivals, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Spain’s campaign begins with a quarterfinal clash against the Netherlands. The winner of this match will advance to face either Germany or Canada in the semifinals.
Dutch coach Paul Haarhuis acknowledged the historical significance of potentially facing Nadal in his final professional match, expressing his team’s determination to provide a fitting farewell.
“It’s amazing that it might be the last match that Nadal plays. We hope to give him a nice adios!”
Italy title defence
Italy enter the tournament as defending champions, having ended a 47-year drought with a final victory over Australia. Jannik Sinner played a pivotal role in their triumph.
Sinner, a two-time Grand Slam winner, awaits the outcome of an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency regarding a doping case. Despite this ongoing situation, he heads to Malaga with boosted confidence following his recent victory at the ATP Finals in Turin.
In the quarterfinals, Italy are set to face Argentina. The victor of this match will face a tough challenge in the semifinals against either the United States or Australia.
Australia, captained by Lleyton Hewitt, finished as runners-up in the previous year’s tournament. With a rich history in the Davis Cup, having secured the title a record 28 times, they remain a force to be reckoned with.
Fritz, the US Open finalist and runner-up to Sinner in the recent ATP Finals, is eager to witness Nadal’s final Davis Cup appearance firsthand. He acknowledged the profound impact Nadal and Federer have had on his generation of tennis players, inspiring them during their formative years.
“When I was a kid, I’d be on the court pretending I’m playing the French Open. He’s had a massive impact on my whole generation because we all grew up on watching him and Roger.”
The Davis Cup Finals will culminate in a championship match scheduled for Sunday. All matches will be held at the Martin Carpena arena, an indoor hard-court facility.
Which countries will feature in Davis Cup Finals 2024?
Davis Cup Finals will feature eight countries. Netherlands, Spain, Italy, USA, Germany, Canada, Australia and Argentina have qualified for the last week of competition.
Which players are named in Davis Cup Finals 2024?
Netherlands: Tallon Griekspoor, Botic van de Zandschulp, Jesper de Jong, Wesley Koolhof
Spain: Carlos Alcaraz, Pedro Martinez, Roberto Bautista Agut, Rafael Nadal, Marcel Granollers
Germany: Jan-Lennard Struff, Yannick Hanfmann, Daniel Altmaier, Kevin Philipp Krawietz, Tim Puetz
Canada: Denis Shapovalov, Gabriel Diallo, Alexis Galarneau, Milos Raonic, Vasek Pospisil
USA: Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Rajeev Ram, Austin Krajicek
Australia: Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin, Jordan Thompson, Thanassi Kokkinakis, Matthew Ebden
Italy: Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, Matteo Berrettini, Andrea Vavassori, Simone Bolelli
Argentina: Sebastian Baez, Francisco Cerundolo, Tomas Etcheverry, Maximo Gonzalez, Andres Molteni
What is the schedule of Davis Cup Finals 2024? What time do matches begin?
November 19: Netherlands vs Spain (5pm CET/9:30pm IST)
November 20: Germany vs Canada (12pm CET/4:30pm IST)
November 21: USA vs Australia (10am CET/2:30pm IST)
November 21: Italy vs Argentina (not before 5pm CET/9:30pm IST)
November 22: Semi-final 1 (5pm CET/9:30pm IST)
November 23: Semi-final 2 (1pm CET/5:30pm IST)
November 24: Final (4pm CET/8:30pm IST)
Where is the Davis Cup Finals 2024 being played?
Davis Cup Finals will be played on the indoor hardcourts of Martin Carpena arena in Malaga, Spain.
Where to live stream Davis Cup Finals 2024?
The Davis Cup Finals 2024 will be available to watch on SonyLiv app and website in India. It will be available on The Tennis Channel in the USA.
