November 16, (THEWILL) – Rafael Nadal might not participate in singles matches during his final professional tournament at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next week.
The Spanish tennis legend, who will retire after the competition, shared his thoughts regarding potential participation with the Spanish Tennis Federation.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been absent from competitive tennis since his second-round exit at the Paris Olympics in July 2024, where he faced defeat against Novak Djokovic.
His world ranking has since dropped to 155, prompting careful consideration about his role in the upcoming matches.
“First off, we’ll have to see how I feel in training and, if I don’t feel I have a chance to win the singles, I’ll be the first to not want to play,” Nadal stated.
The Spanish team begins their Davis Cup campaign on Tuesday against the Netherlands, with Carlos Alcaraz confirmed for singles competition, while Pedro Martinez and Roberto Bautista Agut remain potential candidates for the second singles position.
Should Nadal opt out of singles matches, he might partner with Alcaraz in doubles, replicating their Olympic partnership where they reached the quarter-finals.
The 38-year-old’s remarkable career includes 92 singles titles, 36 Masters crowns, and Olympic medals in both singles (2008) and doubles (2016).
“I could not ask for more, I am very grateful and satisfied with everything that has happened to me over all these years,” Nadal reflected, adding that his primary desire is for the team to succeed and potentially win another Davis Cup, regardless of whether he competes or supports from the sidelines.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
