One last smash for Rafael Nadal before he steps off courts

Seville, December 2004: Spain unveiled an unexpected matador ready to lay down his life on the Andalusian clay courts. With a garnet-red tank top showing off his bulging biceps, and eyes as dark as his jet-black locks, Rafael Nadal (then 51^st in the world) exploded onto the court to challenge – racket in hand – the world number two in the Davis Cup final. The rookie ousted American Andy Roddick and gave his country a crucial point toward lifting the heavy silver bowl two days later. At the age of 18 and 187 days, the left-hander became the youngest winner in the history of the team tennis competition, and earned a nickname that would stick for the rest of his career: “The King of Clay.”

Twenty years later, the Spanish legend with 22 Grand Slam titles is offering up one last home rodeo before bidding farewell to the professional circuit. The beginning and the end in the same competition – albeit in a version far removed from its traditional format – and the same region as a backdrop. For six days from Tuesday, November 19, Malaga hosts the eight teams who have qualified to compete in the Davis Cup finals (quarter-finals, semi-finals, final). The Spanish team, led by its captain, David Ferrer (ex-3^rd in the world), is first up against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. “It’s coming full circle, just as one of my first great joys as a professional player was the final in Seville in 2004,” justified Nadal in the video announcing the end of his career, broadcast on social media on October 10.

There is one remaining unknown factor: How fit is the 38-year-old, whose body is begging for mercy after 23 years on the professional circuit? “If I could, I would continue to play tennis, but I don’t have the opportunity to play at a level that really satisfies me on a personal level. I wanted to give myself the opportunity to try again, it didn’t go as well as I would have liked, I couldn’t play without feeling limited. I’ve done all I can and I accept that without any problem,” explained the former world number one, who was the focus of much attention at Spain’s press conference on Monday.

‘Perfect endings are only in American movies’

This season, he has played just 19 matches, his penultimate official tournament dating back to the Olympic Games, at the end of July. Before taking part in the Davis Cup, the Majorcan made a short detour to Saudi Arabia in mid-October to take part in a lucrative exhibition alongside Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and compatriot Carlos Alcaraz.

In Malaga, the greatest tennis player in his country’s history is prepared to sacrifice himself for his team and not play singles, or even sit on the bench, if he doesn’t feel competitive. “There are no perfect endings. Perfect endings only happen in American movies (…) What I want is for the team to compete and win the Davis Cup. My best goodbye would be the joy of winning with everyone. But I don’t know whether I’ll play a match or not. I’ve played very little recently,” conceded Nadal, who has been “working as hard as I can for the last month and a half.”

The dread of imminent retirement? “I’m not paying any attention to it,” he insisted. “I know it will be a big change in my life, but I’ll think about it later. I’m here with the team and that’s what makes me happy (…) If I’m on the court, I hope I can control my emotions. I’m not here to retire, I’m here to help the team. The emotions will come at the end. In the meantime, we have to concentrate on what we have to do.”

Despite the build-up of fatigue after a season that saw him win both the French Open and Wimbledon, Alcaraz is determined to go all out to give his revered elder the ending he deserves and his fourth silver bowl. Referencing the deadly floods that have recently devastated his country, the world number three said to sports daily Mark“We want to win the title for Spain,” adding “and also for Rafa.”

Whether the icon is playing or not, the world’s tennis elite – and beyond – will be on hand to pay tribute to him on the hard courts of Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes. “All the tennis players who played at the same time want to be there. And athletes from other sports, from Spain and all over the world, also want to be there,” said Davis Cup director Feliciano Lopez (ex-12^th in the world) in early November. Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have made it clear that they don’t want to miss the event, and there are rumors that Roger Federer will also be in the souvenir photo.