Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Sunday November 17, 2024 at 12:49 p.m.
Rafael Nadal has made it known that he is ready to play only doubles at the Davis Cup these coming days in Malaga, if his level in singles is not sufficient enough.
This Tuesday, November 19 could be a special day in the history of Tennis, because Rafael Nadal could well play the very last match of his immense career. Spain faces the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Malaga, and if things go wrong for the Spaniards, it will be retirement time for 'Rafa'. With Carlos Alcaraz (world No. 3), Pedro Martinez (No. 42), Roberto Bautista Agut (No. 46), Rafael Nadal (No. 155) and Marcel Granollers (world No. 3 in doubles), Spain seems leave with a small head start against the Dutch Tallon Griekspoor (n°40), Botic Van De Zandschulp (n°81), Jesper de Jong (n°111) and Wesley Koolhof (No. 8 in doubles). But will Rafael Nadal play singles or not? In a video published by the Spanish Tennis Federation, the king of clay assures that he is ready to sacrifice himself. “If I don't feel ready, I will be the first to talk to the captain (David Ferrer, editor's note). I told them not to make a decision based on the fact that it's my last week as a professional tennis player“, explains the Majorcan. Remember that according to the new format of the Davis Cup, the matches are played over a single day, with two singles then a double, all in two winning sets.
Spain can believe in the final
Doubts about Rafael Nadal's level of play are significant before entering the last week of his career. The 38-year-old has not played a singles match since his defeat in the round of 32 of the Olympic tournament against Novak Djokovic. He has won 12 of his 19 meetings in 2024, his best performance being a success over world No. 11 Alex De Minaur in Madrid. But that was six months ago, on clay… In the event of victory over the Netherlands, Spain, placed at the bottom of the table, will face Jan-Lennard Struff's Germany in the semi-final. (43rd) or Canada of Denis Shapovalov (56th). La Roja therefore has a big challenge to play during this week in Malaga to offer a dream final to its greatest player. Even if the upper part of the table seems more formidable for dreaming of the Silver Salad Bowl, with the Italy of Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti and the United States of Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton.
