Star tennis player and 22-time Grand Slam champion has opened up on the possibility of skipping the singles matches at the Davis Cup Finals, which is set to be played from November 19 to 24 in Malaga, Spain.
The Spaniard on Thursday, October 10 confirmed retirement from professional tennis while taking to X (formerly called Twitter).
However, in the same post he confirmed that he will be playing his final match at the end of the ongoing season, making an appearance for Spain at the Davis Cup Finals. But just days away from the tournament, the 38-year-old informed that is he doesn’t feel good enough, he might not feature in the singles matches.
If I don’t feel ready, I’ll be the first to speak to the captain: Rafael Nadal on skipping singles matches
Speaking in an interview published by the Spanish tennis federation, Nadal stated, ‘I’ll try to prepare as best as possible so I can be available to play, but I want to help anyway I can, playing or not playing.’ ‘First off, we’ll have to see how I feel in training and, if I really don’t feel I have a chance to win the singles, I’ll be the first to not want to play,’ Nadal further added.
‘If I don’t feel ready, I’ll be the first to speak to the captain. I’ve already told him (David Ferrer) on a few occasions not to make any decisions based on the fact that it’s my llast week as a professional tennis player,’ he continued. The Spaniard further added that he just wants to relish the final moments on the tennis court, welcoming an end of a crucial part of his career.
‘So, I’m excited to bring to an end a long and beautiful part of my life, relishing these last moments as normal, accepting that everything has a beginning and an end,’ Nadal concluded. Spain will open the Davis Cup Finals on Tuesday, November 19 against the Netherlands, and if they win the tie, they’ll will advance to the semi-finals, where they either of Canada or Germany.
