The Davis Cup is preparing a “special celebration” for Rafael Nadal’s retirement. The 22-time Grand Slam champion announced that his final competition as a professional will be the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, which begin on November 19.
It’s still unclear if the former World No. 1 will be fit to play Spain’s series against the Netherlands, leaving captain David Ferrer uncertain about whether Nadal will compete in singles or only in doubles.
Tournament Director Feliciano Lopez recently commented that he felt “fortunate” to host Nadal’s final tournament. The former World No. 12 hopes to offer a special farewell in front of the Spanish crowd. “It’s confidential of course, but we’re planning to do something very special for him, we have to celebrate his career and his legacy,” Lopez told reporters. “There’s a lot that we’re planning, but I can’t share more details yet. We’re aiming for a truly special tribute.”
“We’re going to try and honour his legacy and incredible career, and I hope we can create something remarkable for him,” he added. “I know almost everyone in the world wants to be there for his farewell… Novak Djokovic posted on Instagram that he wants to be there, and Andy Murray wants to be there too.”
Rafa Nadal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
“I’m not sure if we’ll have seats for everyone, but you can imagine how all the players who competed alongside him want to be there,” said Feliciano Lopez. “Other athletes from various sports, especially from Spain and beyond, want to attend too, so it’s going to be very special for Rafa.”
When asked if Nadal’s farewell might overshadow the tournament itself, Lopez responded, “The Davis Cup itself is very important, and I don’t think this celebration will overshadow the competition, especially since Rafa doesn’t want that.”
In addition, Lopez discussed the rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who could face off one last time this season in a potential final between Spain and Italy, though it’s a long path from the quarterfinals. “They are a true blessing for tennis,” Lopez said.
“Roger (Federer) and Rafa are gone, and with Novak we don’t know how much he has left in the tank… we’re very fortunate in the tennis world to have Sinner and Alcaraz leading this new generation.”
