Rafael Nadal, a tennis player from Spain, makes a comeback during a practice session at the Martin Carpena sports centre in Malaga on November 16, 2024, in preparation for the Davis Cup tennis event. Photo Credit: AFP

After one more match, Rafael Nadal is about to bid professional tennis farewell. He will play for Spain in the Davis Cup finals, which begin Tuesday, November 18, 2024, in front of a Malaga home crowd.

 

The 38-year-old Rafael Nadal is the second of the so-called Big Three of men’s tennis to retire from competition after more than two decades on the circuit. Roger Federer declared his resignation in 2022, while Novak Djokovic is still near the top of the game.

 

It’s clear that this is a tough choice, and I’ve given it some thought. Nadal, who has been training every day in Malaga since last week, stated, “But everything in this life has a beginning and an end.” And I believe that this is the right moment to terminate a lengthy and far more prosperous career than I ever could have dreamed.

 

 

What date is Nadal’s last match?

Since the Davis Cup is a team competition and what is currently known as the “Final 8” starts at the quarterfinal level, it’s unclear exactly when Rafael Nadal will play his final match.

The match between Spain and the Netherlands will begin on Tuesday, November 18, 2024. If the Spaniards win that, they will play either Canada or Germany in the semifinals on Friday, November 22, 2024. They play each other on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.

 

The United States vs. Australia and the reigning champion Italy vs. Argentina quarterfinals are set for Thursday, November 21, 2024. The final round will take place on Sunday, November 24, 2024.

Each matchup consists of two singles matches and one doubles match; the first nation to win twice advances.

Nadal declared, “I’ll be the first to not want to play if I really don’t see myself ready to have a chance of winning in singles.”

Which players on Spain’s Davis Cup team are Nadal’s teammates?

What is causing Nadal to retire now?In actuality, these past two years in particular have been challenging,” Nadal stated. “I doubt I’ve been able to play without any restrictions.”

When was the last time Nadal played?

Due to injuries, Nadal has not played much in each of the last two seasons; in 2024, he is merely 12-7. He fell to his long-time adversary and eventual gold medallist Djokovic in the second round of the singles competition at the Paris Olympics in early August. He and Alcaraz advanced to the quarterfinals of the doubles tournament before retiring. Last month, Nadal also participated in two exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia.

What was Nadal’s total number of grand slam victories?

Nadal ends with 22 Grand Slam singles victories, more than Federer’s 20 and second only to Djokovic’s 24 in tennis history. The breakdown is as follows: two at Wimbledon, two at the Australian Open, four at the U.S. Open, and fourteen in the French Open. Nadal required nerve-numbing injections in his left foot to win his final major title in Paris in 2022.

Has Nadal previously assisted Spain in winning the Davis Cup?

During the five years that Spain won the Davis Cup—in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2019—Nadal was a member of the Spanish squad at some point. When Spain advanced past the U.S., a young Nadal overcame then-No. 2-ranked Andy Roddick to win that maiden title.

I’m thrilled that I’ll be representing my nation in the Davis Cup final for my farewell competition,” Nadal remarked.

The Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004 was one of my first major victories as a professional tennis player, so I feel like I’ve come full circle.