Rafael Nadal is putting aside thoughts of his impending retirement to concentrate on helping Spain clinch the Davis Cup this week in Málaga. The 38-year-old tennis legend is determined to contribute to his nation’s success in what will be his final professional tournament.
“If I’m on the court, I hope to control my emotions. I’m not here to retire; I’m here to help the team win,” Nadal told reporters. “It’s my last week in a team competition, and the most important thing is to help the team.”
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, emphasized that he’s fully focused on the competition rather than his farewell. “The emotions will come at the end. Before and after, I’ll be focused on what I have to do. I feel good; I’ve been thinking about it for quite some time. I’m enjoying the week and not paying much attention to the retirement thing,” he added.
The Spaniard is excited about potentially teaming up with rising star Carlos Alcaraz in doubles play, rekindling a partnership that showed promise at the Paris Olympics. “At the Olympic Games, it was very special playing doubles with Rafa,” Alcaraz said. “To be with him in his last moments of tennis is special. It’s great for the team that we have the opportunity to join Nadal in this tournament.”
Nadal expressed gratitude for retiring in his home country. “I have the chance to retire in Spain, and it’s something that makes me really happy,” he reflected. “I’m feeling incredible support from everyone. The kids, the press—all the people are showing their support. It’s super special.”
As Spain prepares to face the Netherlands in their opening match, Nadal remains humble about his role. “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 movies. 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.”
Reference(s):
Nadal more focused on helping Spain win Davis Cup than his retirement
cgtn.com
