After Roberto Bautista Agut’s triumph in Antwerp on Sunday, will probably be even tougher for Spain’s captain David Ferrer to select who will be a part of Carlos Alcaraz within the Davis Cup Finals. This occasion – scheduled for subsequent month in Malaga – can even host the final official match of Rafael Nadal as knowledgeable tennis participant.
The previous world #1 has chosen to characterize his nation for the final time earlier than saying goodbye to tennis and beginning a brand new chapter in his life. The 22-time Grand Slam champion performed little and didn’t obtain a lot in 2024, which is why he determined that it was time to say goodbye to the game that made him a worldwide icon.
The 14-time French Open champion returned to motion final week on the ‘Six Kings Slam‘ in Saudi Arabia, shedding each his matches to Carlitos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Rafa – who hasn’t performed a match because the Paris Olympics this summer time – has appeared removed from an appropriate stage and can hardly be capable of play the only in Malaga in a month.
Nadal will do every part attainable to get into good situation on the occasion, wanting to assist his staff in an occasion that has usually seen him as a protagonist throughout his legendary profession. After the Six Kings Slam, Rafa doesn’t appear to need to play any extra tournaments earlier than the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. The 22-time Grand Slam champion obtained a really distinctive tribute in Saudi Arabia and was given a really useful golden racket.
A formidable prize cash
As everybody is aware of, they’ve made a lot dialogue the charges that gamers obtained to play this occasion. Jannik Sinner – who received the match – obtained an unreal prize cash of $6 million, whereas all different gamers earned $1.5 million. Because of this Nadal earned $1.5 million for being on the courtroom for 169 minutes.
After his match in opposition to Djokovic, the previous World No.1 despatched a message to all of the followers: “Due to all these current, it has been an unbelievable occasion. I need to thank Djokovic for all of the moments we have now shared on the courtroom. It has been an amazing rivalry, and also you at all times made me give my finest. Thanks for pushing me to present my all and surpass my limits.” He additionally added: ”It’s an honor to have been capable of fulfill the dream of being knowledgeable, and I’ll by no means be capable of thank everybody sufficient for all of the love I’ve obtained from around the globe for therefore a few years. I’ve been lucky, I’ll miss tennis very a lot.”
Followers hoped that Rafa would play some tournaments in 2025, possibly the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo and particularly the French Open. Nevertheless, the Spanish ace has realized that his physique won’t ever enable him to play with out limitations and he determined to make this very painful choice.
A really painful choice
In a latest interview with ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’, Roger Federer’s former coach Ivan Ljubicic opened up on Rafa’s choice: “I’m stunned as a result of I assumed Roland Garros was most likely the suitable time, probably the most logical place to cease. However I don’t know what he feels or why that was his choice.
I don’t assume a participant of this stage – as I noticed it with Federer – would retire, as a result of he doesn’t need to play tennis anymore. He steps again as a result of he most likely feels that he can’t play at a stage that’s acceptable to him. When the longer term shouldn’t be clear, it isn’t good to proceed with this sense, and it’s logical to make a sure choice. I’ve at all times mentioned it’s one factor, to determine to stop, that’s the hardest factor.”
Djokovic has already promised that he can be in Malaga to pay tribute to his everlasting rival, whereas the presence of Federer remains to be unsure. Roger and Rafa had been supposed to satisfy on the Laver Cup final month, however the Spanish legend most popular to skip the occasion in Berlin. Though the period of the Massive 3 is now over, regardless of Djokovic being nonetheless lively, the way forward for tennis seems very brilliant due to Sinner and Alcaraz.
These two younger champions are really predestined and their rivalry has already reached memorable heights. Regardless of being solely an exhibition match, Jannik and Carlitos gave an awesome present on Saturday within the last of the Six Kings Slam. The World #1 prevailed in three units, after shedding the primary set on the tiebreak. The world’s prime two gamers may face one another within the Davis Cup Finals.