Nadal-Mania: “I want to enjoy my last week”

Rafael Nadal's last appearance in Malaga, which is plagued by storms, pushes even the great concerns about the consequences of the climate catastrophe into the background for a few days.

18 November 2024

From: dpa/det

There is a huge poster on the facade of the Palacio de deportes José María Martín Carpena. “GRACIAS, RAFA” (Thank you Rafa) is written on it in large letters.

After 22 years on the tour, the Spanish tennis titan's time is over this week. Plagued by many injuries, Nadal is ending his impressive career at the Davis Cup finals. "It's just not possible anymore," the 38-year-old said in a video message in October. "If I could, I would keep playing," Nadal said on Monday in Malaga. But it's just not possible anymore.

Greatest successes in Paris

Actually, Paris would have been the logical place for this very special tennis career to end. There was no other place where Nadal celebrated such great success and dominated the competition as much as on the Court Philippe Chatrier at the Stade Roland Garros. The Spaniard won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles at the French Open. His last one will also be in 2022.

Nadal wants to compete in the Davis Cup again. © APA/afp / JORGE GUERRERO

Even back then, many people assumed that Nadal would use his victory speech to announce the end of his career. But the Mallorcan's love for tennis was simply too great to call it a day. So Nadal tried again and again for two more years to fight his way back. But his exhausting game over all those years simply took too much of a toll.

There is no such thing as a perfect farewell, said Nadal, who has won 1080 matches in his career. "The film endings are for American films. I realized a long time ago that I wouldn't have one like that," admitted the long-time world number one. A triumph in the Davis Cup with Nadal on the court would be something very special, however. "That would be a nice farewell for me and a joy for all of us."

Last appearance at home

Nadal played his last official match at the Olympic Games in Paris in the second round against his long-time rival Novak Djokovic. By the end of July, he was no longer an equal opponent.
Now he is returning to the tennis court in his Spanish homeland for the last time. In what condition is the big question. "I was able to prepare quite well," said Nadal about the recent training days in his own academy on Mallorca.

Nadal has been training hard in recent weeks. © APA/afp / JORGE GUERRERO

"I'm here to enjoy this week and then we'll see what happens," said Nadal upon his arrival in Malaga. The focus should be on the sport, not on the end of his career. "That won't distract me. I'm not here to retire, but to help the team." Team boss David Ferrer will only announce shortly before the match against the Netherlands whether he can and is allowed to do that.

Tickets sold out quickly

Of course, everyone is hoping that Nadal will play in a singles match again during the week. Tickets for the hosts' match against the Netherlands on Tuesday (17.00 p.m.) were sold out within a few hours. "We could have filled the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu," said tournament director Feliciano Lopez, referring to Real Madrid's football stadium, which has a capacity of around 80.000 spectators.

Nadal had his last official appearance at the Olympics. © APA/afp / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA

But only about 10.000 spectators will be there in Malaga, including stars from sports, show business and politics. "Of course we are planning a very special farewell for this very special athlete and person," said Lopez. The difficulty is that no one knows exactly when Nadal's last appearance will be.

When will it happen?

Already on Tuesday against the Netherlands? Or not until the semi-finals, possibly against Germany? Or even not until the final on Sunday? And will Nadal even play again? Or is his time as a substitute coming to an end? "If it doesn't make sense, then I'll be the first to say so," Nadal promised.

Schlagwörter: Tennis Rafael Nadal Davis Cup