The Spanish tennis legend does not want any special treatment at his farewell in the Davis Cup.
Rafael Nadal does not want to jeopardize team success in his big farewell to the tennis stage – and will forgo an appearance in the singles if necessary. “I won’t be on the court one hundred percent if I don’t feel ready to win the match,” said the 22-time Grand Slam winner, with the Davis Cup final round in November in mind, after which the Spaniard will end his career.
He will definitely be “emotionally” ready, Nadal said on the sidelines of the “Six Kings Slam” in Saudi Arabia: “And physically and in terms of playing, I still have a month to prepare.” But: “If I don’t feel ready for the singles, I’ll be the first to communicate that too.”
Should Nadal actually decide against playing a single, there would still be the opportunity to say goodbye on court. In the doubles, the clay court king could compete alongside his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz – as he did at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Nadal and Spain will first face the Netherlands in Malaga on November 19, and could then face the German team in the semi-finals.