TENNIS
Rafael Nadal announces final tournament before retirement
After a more than two-decade career that has brought 22 Grand Slam titles, Nadal is set to retire from professional tennis.
Rafael Nadal is set to bow out from professional tennis next month, after experiencing the final court action of his career at the 2024 Davis Cup finals.
A 22-time Grand Slam winner, Nadal announced on Thursday that the Davis Cup ‘final 8′, in which Spain take on the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, will be the last event of his illustrious, 23-year pro career.
Davis Cup career finale “really exciting”, Nadal says
“It’s really exciting for me that my final tournament will be the Davis Cup finals, representing my country,” the Spaniard said in a video message posted on social media.
“I think I’ll be coming full circle, because one of the first great joys of my career as a professional tennis player was in the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004 [when Spain beat the United States to win their second title.]”
When are the 2024 Davis Cup finals?
The 2024 Davis Cup finals are to be held in the Spanish city of Malaga, at the Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena, from November 19 to 24.
Spain’s quarter-final against the Dutch will be the first tie of the finals, and is scheduled to get underway on November 19 at 5pm CET (11am ET/8am PT). Nadal is set to join Carlos Alcaraz, Pablo Carreño Busta and Marcel Granollers in the Spaniards’ Davis Cup team.
Nadal “ready” for Van de Zandschulp clash
In the quarter-final tie with the Dutch, which will feature two singles matches and one doubles match, Spain’s Davis Cup captain has indicated that Nadal is in line to play a singles clash with Botic van de Zandschulp.
Speaking earlier this month, Ferrer told the ‘Sala de Jugadores’ YouTube channel (via Tennis365): “When the draw was announced, I sent him a message and told him to prepare to play against Botic van de Zandschulp. His response was clear: ‘I’ll be ready’.”
If Spain beat the Netherlands, Nadal and his countrymen will progress to a semi-final tie with either Germany or Canada, scheduled for November 22.