Rafael Nadal has already arrived in Malaga, where the Davis Cup Finals will be played starting November 19. There is great anticipation for this event, in which the Spanish legend will say goodbye to professional tennis and put an end to a career that is simply unparalleled.
The former world No. 1 doesn’t want to limit himself to having the role of an extra in his last official event and has practiced hard in recent weeks to be ready to play. Everyone knows the limits of Rafa’s body right now, but the 22-time Grand Slam champion has already shocked the world so many times and you should never underestimate him.
The 38-year-old from Manacor has not played an official match since the second round of the Olympic tournament against Novak Djokovic, when he realized that he could no longer aspire to win the most important titles. The 14-time French Open champion also participated in the ‘Six Kings Slam’ in Saudi Arabia last month, where he was celebrated by everyone and received a golden racket as a gift from the organizers. During this season, Nadal has thought a lot about his future and was almost convinced to play for another year before changing his mind. His current level is not good enough to compete against top players.
There will an amazing atmosphere in Malaga next week and Rafa will receive a lot of tributes, as several players and VIPs will be present. Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will be present in the arena, while there is still uncertainty about Roger Federer’s presence. The Spanish legend will have some memorable moments with the other members of the Spanish team and will remember these days for the rest of his life.
Parrizas-Dias pays tribute to Rafa
In a recent interview with ‘CLAY’, WTA star Nuria Parrizas-Dias commented on teaming up with a legend like Rafa at the 2023 United Cup: “In the end, I got to know him more personally. I used to know him just from watching his matches, seeing him with his team, but there I was able to get to know him a bit more and see up close what a great person he is. I could listen to him for a long time and would learn a lot. He really likes to talk.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion arrived in Malaga well in advance and immediately started practicing, under the gaze of Spanish captain David Ferrer. According to the latest rumors, the 14-time French Open champion should only play doubles but it is not certain.
— Raquel Bermúdez (@_raqqqq) November 15, 2024
Fans were hoping that Rafa would play a few tournaments in 2025 and retire at the French Open, but it wouldn’t make sense to risk new injuries and squeeze his body further. The Spanish legend sacrificed a lot for this sport and had a much longer career than anyone would have predicted.
His record at the French Open is one of the most incredible in the history of sport, although Nadal has not always had a good relationship with the French crowd. Recently, uncle Toni spoke about Rafa’s relationship with the crowd in Paris: “The first year, I had no animosity. I think later when he started winning so much, people didn’t want to see him win so much.
In the end, the French crowd surrendered to Rafael’s behavior because, in life, it’s not just about winning; it’s about how you win. I think Rafael did that very well, and that’s why there was a change in France, to the point of seeing the recognition they gave him at the Olympics.”
An impressive career
The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s career has been marked by numerous injuries that have put his future at risk, but the Spanish ace has never given up and has pushed his limits several times. His wins at the Australian Open and the French Open in 2022 were truly unreal, considering his physical condition at the time. Rafa had a serious foot injury and his participation in Roland Garros was at huge risk.
Rafael Nadal & Casper Ruud, Roland Garros 2022© Stream screenshot
Uncle Toni also discussed his long journey with Rafa: “He learned for many years to live with pain, he overcame it on many occasions and, despite the doubts and uncertainty, sometimes he was able to come through it not only victoriously, but even stronger. In difficult times, I would repeat something to him that I have now written here: ‘Rafael, life has treated us better than we expected and much better than we deserved.’ Rafael’s career has been very successful, far exceeding my expectations, as much as I always had an unwavering faith in him.”