WATCH: Rafael Nadal tears up ahead of Davis Cup farewell in Malaga

Oli Dickson Jefford 19 Nov 2024 4:33 PM

Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd

Rafael Nadal was brought to tears ahead of the start of the final tournament of his career at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.

Nadal was selected by Spain captain David Ferrer to be their singles No 2 player for their tie against the Netherlands, with the 38-year-old facing Botic van de Zandschulp in the first rubber.

Former world No 1 and 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal confirmed last month that he would call time on his career in Malaga, ending months of speculation amid his ongoing injury struggles.

And, as the Spaniard joined his teammates on court for the national anthems pre-match, the tennis great was visibly moved as the Spanish national anthem played.

An emotional anthem for @RafaelNadal #DavisCup | @RFETenis pic.twitter.com/wZNt3kmB9x

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 19, 2024

Speaking on Tuesday ahead of the quarter-final clash against the Netherlands, Nadal said that he and his teammates would ignore the “emotion” of his retirement until after their campaign was over.

He said: “I’m here to try to help the team. Then it’s of course going to be my last week on the professional tour, but at the end, we are here in a teams competition.

“The most important thing here is try to help the team and to stay all focused on what we have to do, that is play tennis and do it very well, no?

“Because the rival is going to be difficult, and the conditions are difficult, too. So then the emotions going to be for the end, and before and during, it’s to be focused on what we need to do.

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“[Retirement is] something that I have been thinking for quite a long time, you know, some on-and-offs during the season. But I tried always to give me one more chance.

“But, yeah, something that I decided with time. So I’m enjoying the week. No, no, I’m not putting much attention to that.

“I know it’s going to be a big change in my life, but that’s going to happen later after this week. Now I am here on the team, and I am very excited. I am happy for that.”

After Nadal and van de Zandschulp’s rubber is finished, Carlos Alcaraz will take to court against Tallon Griekspoor.

Should a deciding doubles rubber be needed, Alcaraz will return to court alongside Marcel Granollers to face van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof.