- Rafael Nadal, 38, will retire later this week after Spain’s Davis Cup campaign
- His first farewell match of the week will take place against the Netherlands today
- Spain captain David Ferrer has reportedly chosen Nadal to play in the singles
Rafael Nadal is set to play singles today in the Davis Cup, according to reports in Spain.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion is playing his final event before retirement here in Malaga but there was uncertainty over his role for Spain’s quarter-final against the Netherlands.
Carlos Alcaraz is the No1 player, leaving one spot in the singles. Given Nadal’s questionable physical condition and the fact he has not played since being thrashed by Novak Djokovic in the Olympics in July, the obvious sporting decision would be to select the dependable Roberto Bautista Agut and hold Nadal back for the less exacting doubles format.
But tickets have been changing hands for €24,000 (£20,000) and there is only one man they are paying to watch.
So it appears that captain David Ferrer has bowed to a combination of public demand, the narrative of a legend’s farewell and an innate belief in the powers of a man who beat him 26 times in his own career.
Perhaps Nadal simply said to his old friend: I’m ready, I can beat this guy – put me in coach. It would take a strong will to resist such an entreaty.
If he is indeed selected, Nadal will face world No80 Botic van der Zandschulp at 4pm today UK time.
As Spain begins to say goodbye to perhaps its greatest ever sportsman, it promises to be quite the occasion.
However, despite the focus on his retirement – which he admits he is at peace with – Nadal has said his attention is on the team.
Speaking on Monday, Nadal said: ‘It’s something I have been thinking for quite a long time,’ said Nadal, 38, who announced last month that this would be his last event before retirement.
‘I could hold for one more year, but why? To say good-bye in every single tournament? I don’t have that ego to need that.
‘For me it doesn’t make sense to keep going knowing that I don’t have the real chance to be competitive the way that I like to be competitive, because my body is not able to give me the possibility to do that very often.
‘So I’m enjoying the week. I know it’s going to be a big change in my life, but that’s going to happen later. Now I am here on the team, and I am very excited. I am happy for that. I am not here for retiring. I’m here to try to help the team.’
Nadal will be aiming to add a fifth Davis Cup to his trophy cabinet when he takes to the court, last triumphing in the competition in 2019 when he was named ‘Most Valuable Player’.
While he the majority of his success came from individual honours, Nadal has always loved team events and admitted it’s a more than a good enough way to end his illustrious career.
‘Everybody knows how much I love my country,’ he continued. ‘I have never been able to move from the country ever, so I enjoy living here.
‘And to play my last event in Spain, it’s something that I am very happy with. I will never have the chance to thank enough everybody here in Spain, the support that I receive and the love that I felt always.
‘I have been very fortunate to feel myself the way that I feel during all those years.’
