The national team appeared before the media this Monday morning, prior to the official debut against the Netherlands. The Davis Cup will be Rafa Nadal’s last tournament as a professional, so the 14-time Roland Garros winner has monopolized all the spotlights. Most of the questions were for the manacorí, who claims to be “enjoying the week”, and very “happy” with the team. What’s more, he is aware that he is in Malaga to “help” ‘La Armada’ and he leaves his emotions “for last” because “in the meantime you have to be focused.”
David Ferrer, the captain of the national team, will have to decide who to field for the tie. Spain’s number 1 is clear, Carlos Alcaraz; However, number 2 is not so much. During these days we have seen several of Nadal’s training sessions and he seems prepared, although Rafa himself is aware that “by not competing very often it is a little more difficult to maintain a constant level.”
The truth is that Nadal is eager to start the competition, the perfect end to the cycle if Spain lifts its sixth salad bowl, which would also be Rafa’s sixth. “The feeling of playing for your country, for your teammates… It has been 20 years playing this competition, I have gone through different generations, and the great success of Spain is that there is always a family relationship,” highlighted the tennis player.
Once again, the Spaniard has expressed the pride he feels in being Spanish and how lucky he is to have enjoyed an entire sporting career, which will end in Malaga: “Doing it in Spain is very special, I will never be able to thank him enough. affection that I have received from people, from children, from the media. I have been fortunate to have enjoyed everything I have enjoyed. However, he does not expect an ideal ending, since those are “for American films.” “A long time ago I realized that I would not have one of those farewells. My farewell will be as it will be, it would be fantastic for the team to be competitive and win the Davis Cup,” he continued.
Something you should never ask Rafa for is delivery to the track, as it is insured. Therefore, whoever is chosen tomorrow to fight for the first point, if he is the winner of 22 Grand Slams he will jump with the “maximum enthusiasm, trying to give his maximum so that things go well.” Still, he leaves the ball in Ferrer’s court.
“If possible, I would continue”
Regarding his career, as he warned on past occasions, “I would change some things a little.” Despite this, Nadal is aware that each decision has been “important.” Even his setbacks with injuries, “problems” for which “they have been finding a solution or have given me windows of being able to play without limitations.” However, Rafa knows that it is something “normal” because it is “the wear and tear of a long career.” “I haven’t burned out, if I could I would continue playing tennis, but I don’t have the opportunity to play at a level that really compensates me on a personal level,” he continued.
“The things I’ve been through, last year and others I’ve had, have made me feel like I can’t be competitive enough and enjoy myself every day,” is how Nadal explained the reason for his goodbye, a decision that, far from of being hasty, she has been thinking for “a long time.” Rafa is also not afraid of his new life, a “new challenge”, in which he will miss the slopes and that “adrenaline”, but in which he will have “things” that will make him “happy”.
Of course, when ‘La Armada”s journey in the Davis Cup ends, which hopefully will be by lifting the title, Nadal will have his well-deserved farewell, although for him “it doesn’t have to generate any importance.” A goodbye that will be different, for example, from that of his friend and former rival, Roger Federer, with whom he claims to have the “opportunity to do something” in the future.
The rest of the members of the Spanish team have also spoken. Carlos Alcaraz, who joined the expedition on Saturday, after his difficult time at the ATP Finals, arrives in Malaga with several challenges to face. The first, lift your first ‘salad bowl’. The second, giving Nadal his last title as a professional: “For me, it was a dream to play with Rafa, and the doubles was very special. Representing Spain in the Davis Cup, being with him, sharing many moments with him in his last moment on the track, it’s going to be very special for me and for everyone.
On the other hand, the Murcian has confirmed that he feels “very good” and that he has been able to “train normally” and is practically 100%. David Ferrer, for his part, has analyzed the juice and composition of tomorrow’s rival and has chosen not to give clues about the team he will field.
