Rafael Nadal reveals what he told Spain’s Davis Cup captain ahead of his farewell tournament
David Ferrer has been told to “ignore the noise” that will be around for Rafael Nadal’s farewell tournament with the great man himself saying the Spain captain must pick the best team for the singles and doubles matches.
The Davis Cup Finals in Malaga will be Nadal’s last tournament as a professional, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will play any matches as there are still question marks over his fitness.
The tennis legend is part of the hosts’ five-man squad for the quarter-final encounter against the Netherlands on November 19 and tennis fans are hoping that Ferrer will select Nadal for both the singles and doubles
But the 38-year-old has encouraged his Davis Cup captain to put the team first.
“I have already told David on many occasions not to make any decision based on the fact that this is my last week as a professional tennis player,” the 22-time Grand Slam winner said.
“The team comes first, and he should not be affected in the slightest by the noise that may be around. He has to do what is best for the team and that is what I want.”
Nadal’s last competitive match was at the Paris Olympics in July although he recently came through two exhibition matches at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia in October.
The former world No 1 is putting the hard yards on the practice court, but he only wants to play if he is 100% fit.
“I have more or less been able to have some good preparation and that’s why I’m here,” he said. “The reality is that I want to live this week, however it is.
“With the illusion of closing a very beautiful and long stage of my life. Living these moments with illusion and with normality too, from the acceptance that everything has a beginning and an end.”
He added: “I am going to try to prepare myself in the best way possible to be available to David and then see what the captain decides. I want to help in any way, whether it is playing or not, just being here and contributing what I can.”
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Nadal won five Davis Cup titles with Spain with his first coming in 2004 while the most recent one was in 2019.
The Davis Cup was an obvious choice to be his final tournament as a professional.
“My first great joy as a professional tennis player was at the 2004 Davis Cup,” he said.
“As things turned out, I was given the opportunity to be here when the team qualified in Valencia. I spoke to David and he told me that he was counting on me, and that I would prepare myself as best I could and then we would see.”
