Rafael Nadal will be a former player in about a month. The Spanish legend chose the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga to welcome the sport that made it famous around the world, with the hope of contributing to the triumphs of Spain also in this edition of the event. The 22-time Grand Slam champion will probably have a minor role in Malaga, having played very little in 2024 and not achieved any great results. The leader of the Spanish team will certainly be Carlos Alcaraz, while it is not clear whether Rafa will be able to play the singles or not.
Rafael Nadal© @jusvan28 X account
The 14-time French Open champion was among the stars of last week’s ‘Six Kings Slam’ in Saudi Arabia, an event where he had the chance to face Carlitos Alcaraz and his eternal rival Novak Djokovic. The former world number 1 is still far from good condition and the Davis Cup Finals will be played on a surface not ideal for his style of play. It’s true that there is still a month to the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, but it will not be easy for Rafa to return competitive and convince David Ferrer to bet on him in singles (especially after the victory of Roberto Bautista Agut in Antwerp last Sunday).
Rafa is a legend
With Nadal’s upcoming retirement, the Fab Four era has finally come to an end even though Nole Djokovic is still active on the professional tour. An extraordinary era, in which tennis has come to touch a new dimension. In the latest edition of his podcast, tennis legend Jimmy Connors opened up on Rafa’s decision: “I said many years ago, when he was first coming up, his style reminded me a lot of the way I played and my attitude towards it. I said he played like he’s broke and I know that ain’t true!
He was willing to go out there and lay it all on the line every time. It didn’t matter what the score was, whether he was up or down or whatever, he was going to give it his all until the very end. Hence, it’s a breakdown. If you play like that, not that other guys don’t play like that, but you can tell some guys like Rafa, compared to let’s say Federer.
Federer moved more elegantly across the court, but Rafa was a grinder. You know, get down and dirty with him. That’s why on red clay, his shirt and socks were dirty. I love that about him. That comparison is something that I treasure and I hope that he feels the same. I go back again to the way he played. 38, that’s a good innings he’s had. He’s had a good 18, 20 year career and everything that he put into it.
22 Slams and how many other tournaments to go along with that. So you know, he’s put in his time. He’s done his time and he’s gotta be proud of that. Everybody else is feeling the pain of Federer leaving and now Rafa leaving, Murray, and ‘Djoker’ is no spring chicken either. Facts are facts and that’s the end of an era.”
Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
The Spanish legend realized that his body was no longer able to sustain certain efforts that he could not fight for the most important titles. Rafa’s last big season was 2022, when he shocked the world by winning at the Australian Open and the French Open despite a serious foot injury.
Nadal chooses Federer
Thanks to those achievements, Nadal has surpassed the 20 Major titles of his great rival Roger Federer, before being overtaken by Djokovic. The career of the legend from Manacor has been marked by his iconic rivalries with Federer and Djokovic. These three champions have moved beyond tennis and their matches really marked an era.
In a long interview with AS, the 22-time Grand Slam champion selected his greatest rival between the Swiss and the Serbian: “Djokovic is the player I have faced the most, but for me, my biggest rival has been Federer. Because, when I arrived on the tour, it was Federer who was there and he was the first.
Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal, 2022 Laver Cup© Stream screenshot
In the years when I was at the top of my career in every sense, it was Roger and Novak. But in the first years, which are the ones that mark you in a special way, Roger was always there. I think, and I don’t know why, that my rivalry with the two has been more intense than the one they had between them. I don’t know what the reason is exactly, but I feel that the world perceives it that way. We would have to find the reason.”