Ahead of today’s Davis Cup quarter-final, Rafael Nadal downplayed the importance of his final career tournament by insisting he was not preparing any special farewell ceremony.
“The ending is for an American movie, not for elite sports,” Nadal said at a press conference in Malaga on November 18. “I realized a long time ago that I wouldn’t want to be involved in such a movie. Because that’s not what I care about.”
Nadal downplayed the significance of the farewell ceremony, which is the main focus of this year’s Davis Cup, which is being held on Spain’s home turf. Spain will play the Netherlands in the quarterfinals today, with Nadal expected to play his first singles match against Botic van de Zandschulp at 11pm Hanoi time. VIP ticket prices have been pushed up dozens of times to 70,000 euros ($74,000), as crowds look to witness the final moments of the “King of Clay”.
“I’m doing my best to serve the team,” Nadal added. “I approach the tournament as normal as any other tournament. I accept the good and bad moments, without any emotional excesses. Of course, it’s the end of my career and it’s a little bit more special. But at the end of the day it’s just a part of your life.”
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the excitement was palpable in the Spanish air, with his colleagues also getting goosebumps at the final moment standing with Nadal. Carlos Alcaraz, David Ferrer, Roberto Bautista Agut, Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez have all spoken of their admiration for Nadal’s career.
Nadal sympathized with the fans’ feelings, stressing that he also felt emotional every time he saw an athlete he followed every week announce his retirement. The 92-time ATP champion said: “It’s like ending a habit that has lasted for decades. The fans will not see me compete after this tournament. Many stars before me have done so, and now it’s my turn.”
According to Spanish Davis Cup captain David Ferrer, Nadal does not want the team to be distracted from the tournament. The 38-year-old tennis player has set his sights on the final team event, with the goal of winning the championship. Nadal has been training continuously for a month, with high intensity and against top opponents such as Alex de Minaur, who was eliminated in the group stage of the ATP Finals and immediately flew to Malaga to train with his senior Spaniard.
“I haven’t decided who will play yet,” Ferrer said of Spain’s starting lineup, amid speculation Nadal will play his first singles match. “We don’t base our selection on the reputation of a player. Everything is very clear here, we evaluate the current form and the suitability of each player to play singles and doubles.”
Spanish newspaper AS assessed that Nadal had improved significantly after drawing 4-4 with Alcaraz in a practice match on the afternoon of November 18. Nadal’s parents, wife, children and siblings were all in Malaga to cheer him on this week.