Rafael Nadal is determined not to make the Davis Cup his final appearance: “We are not here to retire.”

Rafael Nadal is determined not to make the Davis Cup his final appearance: “We are not here to retire.”
As Rafael Nadal is ready to retire at the end of the Davis Cup Finals, which are set for November 19–24, Malaga will witness the last chapter of a magnificent tennis career. Despite the event’s emotional significance, Rafael Nadal has declared he will keep his feelings for the very end and concentrate on helping Spain win another Davis Cup in front of their home audience.
Nadal’s final professional match has drawn thousands of spectators. There was not a press room big enough to hold the vast number of reporters covering the Davis Cup Finals at the Palacio de Deportes. According to the BBC, Spain’s news conference was subsequently rescheduled to a five-star hotel where the team is currently residing. Much of the focus was on Nadal and his farewell, even though the team management urged the media to ask questions of the entire team.
With the semifinals scheduled for November 22 and 23, Spain will play the Netherlands in the quarterfinal on November 19. The match for the title will be held on Sunday, November 24.
For the knockout stages, the Spanish team has a stellar lineup that includes doubles expert Marcel Granollers and singles players Carlos Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Pedro MartÃnez.Nadal has stated that he is unsure if he will play singles in 2024 due to a lack of match practice.
Nadal emphasizes that he is in Málaga as a member of a cohesive squad that is focused on winning the coveted men’s team championship, and he is still committed not to cause any distractions for his colleagues.
“I want to be able to control my emotions when I’m on the court. My purpose here is not to retire. My goal is to assist the team in winning. Helping the team is the most crucial thing during my last week of a team competition. The emotions will come at the end. Before and after, I’ll be focused on what I have to do,” Nadal told the reporters on Monday.
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“I feel good, I’ve been thinking about it for quite some time. I’ve been trying to give myself a chance and I decided over time. I’m enjoying the week, I’m not paying much attention to the retirement thing.
“It will be a big change in my life after this week. I’m very excited and happy to be here.”
IDEAL ENDINGS ONLY IN AMERICAN MOVIES: NADAL
Nadal said he is not sure of playing for Spain this week with captain David Ferrer saying a call would be taken before the start of the quarter-final.
Nadal said he is not looking for a fitting farewell, adding he will go out as a content man even if he doesn’t get an opportunity to play in the knockout stages for Spain.
“Sport is not mathematics and you can’t predict what will happen. I’m going to enjoy myself as much as possible both on the court and if I have to be on the sidelines,” he said.
“There are no ideal endings. Ideal endings usually happen in American movies. It’s not something that worries me in that sense. My farewell is going to be what it’s going to be.
“What I want is for the team to be competitive and to be able to win the Davis Cup. My big farewell would be the joy of winning with everyone,” he added.
“I don’t know if I’ll play a match or not. I’ve played very little in recent times.”
Nadal played in only seven tournaments in 2024 after having missed the majority of 2023 in which he underwent surgery for a hip injury. Nadal last competed in the Paris Olympics, in which he lost to Novak Djokovic in the second round in singles. He partnered with Carlos Alcaraz in doubles at the Games, but the star pair was knocked out in the quarter-finals.