At the moment of formalizing, at 4 p.m., his selection for this first quarter-final of the Davis Cup between Spain and the Netherlands, David Ferrer, the Spanish captain validated a certainty, while leaving a lot of doubts hanging uncertainties.
Nadal ends five years of Davis Cup absence
The certainty is that Rafael Nadal will make his big return to the Davis Cup at around 5 p.m., after five years of absence, since his last participation dates back to the final won against Canada in 2019. This Monday again , and true to his image, the ogre of Manacor clarified the importance of the collective objective in relation to his individual case, and this week which is also his very last in competition. “I am not here to retire, but to help my country win the Davis Cup,” he said from the outset. “In no case do I want my selection to be linked to my farewells, the emotions will be for afterwards. »
Roger Federer’s emotional message
Or for before. Because this Tuesday morning, it was Roger Federer, retired for two years now, who shared a long, moving message to “his career friend”, the very one who had shaken his hand. hand, eyes filled with tears in September 2022, when the Swiss bowed out in the Laver Cup. “I have things to tell you before, perhaps, being overtaken by emotions”, writes on social networks, the first member of what will become the famous Big 3, completely marking the history of tennis . “You forced me to reinvent my game, to the point of changing the size of my racket frame in the hope of gaining an advantage,” jokes the Swiss. “I’m not superstitious, but you have gone very far. All these rituals… Secretly, I think I loved it all. Because it was so unique… it was so you. I want you to know that your old friend is still behind you and will be behind you with the same enthusiasm for everything you do after tennis,” concludes Federer, signing “Your fan, Roger”.
The Swiss is obviously expected in Malaga where he was undoubtedly one of the first to know about his “friend’s” selection of the day.
One last excellent training session against Alcaraz
Because David Ferrer has therefore decided (he also had the choice of fielding, in No. 2 behind Carlos Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut who won the Antwerp tournament last month). Rafael Nadal still has 29 victories in 30 singles played in the Davis Cup! But Ferrer is certainly taking a risk with a 38-year-old player who has not played a competitive match since the Olympics, almost four months ago. Nadal is obviously not just any player, even if he has only won 13 matches (out of 23 played) in the last two seasons, caught up by hip problems. “It’s clear that at 38, it’s less easy to erase weeks without competition, but I’ve trained hard over the last month and a half, and I’m progressing every day,” confided the man who now has a ranking of 154e world player. Progress which visibly convinced Ferrer and the entire Spanish staff, during a final extensive training, this Tuesday, where Nadal managed to compete for eight games (4-4) against Carlos Alcaraz, 21 years old, his designated heir.
The certainty of playing, the uncertainty of goodbyes…
But training is still training. What level can “old Rafa” still reach against Botic Van de Zandschulp (80e at ATP, ex-22e) ? The Dutchman created a huge surprise during the last US Open by dismissing… Carlos Alcaraz, from the 2e round. Even if Nadal does not want to hear about emotions before this match, they will inevitably be palpable in this Palais des Sports Martin Carpena where 9,200 fans snapped up tickets, sometimes at a high price (we are talking about €90,000 on resale for some), with also the announced presence of a whole VIP elite, royal family, political figures and stars from all fields, including undoubtedly Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. But in this context where the ogre of Manacor himself decides that competition takes precedence, it will be difficult to speak of goodbye, in fact. Because there will be another single in the process (Carlos Alcaraz against Tallon Griekspoor) and also a double which could be decisive. Will Spain beat the Netherlands to replay the semi-final on Friday against the winner of Canada-Germany scheduled for Wednesday? Or will the Netherlands emerge victorious from this duel weighed down by emotions? When Rafael Nadal plays his last point this Tuesday, won or lost, we will not know, in fact, if it is really his very last match!
And deep down, he himself hopes that this moment of saying “adios” comes as late as possible, during the final on Sunday.
Whoever lives will see…
