A blue banner, visible from the highway leaving Málaga airport, displays in large white letters: “THANK YOU, RAFA”.
Rafael Nadal’s impending retirement will be the central theme of the Davis Cup Finals as the tournament begins in southern Spain on Tuesday.
If it wasn’t already obvious, just look at the 2,600 square meter banner – about half the size of a football field – which surrounds the football stadium facing the venue hosting the tennis tournament by teams.
The blue sign, visible from the highway leaving Málaga airport, bears the words “THANK YOU, RAFA”. Between these two words, we can see an image of Nadal holding a tennis racket in his left hand, wearing one of his famous sleeveless shirts and his ever-present headband. He is shown from behind, walking away, symbolizing the 38-year-old Spanish athlete’s farewell after an extraordinary career.
“It’s going to be very emotional for everyone,” said tournament director Feliciano López, a former player who faced Nadal 14 times on the singles circuit and also played alongside him at the Davis Cup. “Very touching, at the same time.”
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This sentiment probably applies to Nadal’s fans, other players, his family – his wife and son attended the practice sessions – and, understandably, the 22-time Grand Slam champion himself as he approaches Tuesday. That day, Spain will face the Netherlands on a hard court at the José María Martín Carpena Sports Palace.
“It’s incredible that this could be Nadal’s last match,” Dutch captain Paul Haarhuis said on Sunday, “and we hope to give him a nice ‘Goodbye’.”
Nadal underwent hip surgery in June 2023 and missed almost the entire season. This year he encountered a new hip muscle problem and an abdominal injury, part of a long series of problems that left his body resembling what he described as “a jungle” in May after lost in the first round of the French Open, the clay-court Grand Slam tournament he has won a record 14 times.
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This was his only Grand Slam appearance of the year. Nadal has played a total of 23 official singles matches over the past two seasons combined. This includes a record of 12-7 in 2024. His last competitive matches came at the Olympics in early August, where he lost in the second round of singles to Novak Djokovic and in the quarterfinals of doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz.
Spanish captain David Ferrer, who finished runner-up at the 2013 French Open to Nadal, is yet to reveal how he plans to use the star in Málaga.
It could be singles, although Nadal has said he will withdraw if he doesn’t think he can win. This could be a double with his apparent 21-year-old heir, Alcaraz, in a renewal of their “Nadalcaraz” partnership. It could be both. If Spain overcomes the Netherlands, it will face Germany or Canada in the semifinals on Friday.
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“I really want him to retire with a title,” Alcaraz said.
Thursday’s quarterfinals see the United States take on Australia, and defending champions Italy – whose team includes world number one Jannik Sinner – take on Argentina. The winners of these clashes will meet in the semi-finals on Saturday. The championship will be decided on Sunday.
When Nadal explained last month that the Davis Cup would be the end for him, he spoke happily of his more than two decades in the sport.
“Really, everything I’ve experienced has been a dream come true,” he said.
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He becomes the second member of the so-called “Big Three” of men’s tennis to retire.
Roger Federer has announced his retirement in 2022 – partnering Nadal in doubles at the Laver Cup, then mourning alongside his long-time rival and friend – while Djokovic remains near the top of the game.
Djokovic’s Serbia did not qualify for the Davis Cup quarter-finals, but he posted on social media that he would be there in Málaga. Who knows who else might appear in the crowd of 9,200 on Tuesday, not just from the tennis world, and not just athletes from other sports, but other celebrities as well?
“I don’t know if we’re going to have places for everyone,” López said. “Everyone wants to be there for their goodbyes.”
Many people will be watching this on television from afar, including, of course, other tennis players.
“I’m going to watch it. I’m going to enjoy it,” said Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion who lost to Nadal in two Grand Slam finals. “It’s a great moment for the sport because he’s done so much for the sport.”
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