The tennis world is upside down – Rafael Nadal ends his great career at the Davis Cup. Does he crown her with another title?
Rafael Nadal is everywhere. On a gigantic poster in the vicinity of the Malaga Arena, in the fine thread on the red carpet before the team dinner or during training with compatriot Carlos Alcaraz – before the Davis Cup Finals, no one can ignore Spain’s tennis legend. The departure of the greatest clay court player in history in his own country overshadows everything at the most important team event in the world. Nadal wants to be on the court one last time, fight for a title one last time. Whether he can really fulfill his dream of the last big hurray is still up in the air.
“I don’t know whether I’ll play a match or not because I’ve played very little recently,” said Nadal, saying he didn’t want to jeopardize the team’s success. At the press conference, he was still “very excited and happy to be here.” Playing for your country is still “something incredible.” On Tuesday (5 p.m./DF1 and DAZN) the 38-year-old and his teammates will start their picture-book farewell mission. For the “Bull of Manacor” it would be the sixth title at the traditional event, 20 years after his emotional first Davis Cup triumph at the age of 18, a circle could close in an almost kitschy way.
In the quarter-finals, however, the Netherlands are waiting first – and despite the fact that the home team is clearly the favorite: In the event of a defeat, Nadal’s career could already come to an end. Just like on Friday in a possible semi-final against the German team if they prevail against Canada.
So, just to be on the safe side, will the crème de la crème of sport flock to the multi-purpose hall in Malaga in the quarter-finals to pay homage to the clay court king? Roger Federer for example? Nadal’s great ex-rival and friend will at least “try” to be there like many other celebrities, as the Spaniard revealed. And the tournament director is also prepared: “We are planning something very special for him, we have to celebrate his career and his legacy,” said Feliciano Lopez. Despite Nadal’s doubts – a pure spectator role is hardly imaginable. Especially since Nadal, who has been badly injured over the past two years, gave a decent impression in training. The many imponderables in Malaga hardly affect Nadal. An “ideal ending,” said Nadal, only exists “in American films” anyway. And anyway, shortly before the end, it’s not just worth looking ahead.
In 2001, the left-hander set out from Mallorca to conquer the tennis world. This was followed by 22 Grand Slam titles, 14 of them at his favorite tournament in Paris, a singles and a double Olympic victory and a total of 92 triumphs on the ATP tour. Nadal played over 1,300 matches and won almost $135 million in prize money. Above all, the numerous duels with his big rivals – Federer and Novak Djokovic – will remain unforgettable. The latter will soon be the last remaining of the Big Three, who have shaped tennis in the past almost 25 years like no trio before them.
