Nadal: ‘I’m here to relish this week’

‘I’m here to relish this week and then we’ll see what happens.’ These were Rafael Nadal’s first words in Málaga before he says goodbye to tennis in his last professional tournament this November.

It’s not just any week or any Davis Cup Finals. A heady blend of excitement, emotion and nostalgia is in the air at the Martín Carpena Arena. Because one of the sport’s great icons is soon to say his adiós.

A gigantic 2,600-square-metre poster welcomes the Spanish legend. On a blue background, two words sum up what every fan is feeling: Gracias, Rafa, a few days before Spain takes to the court for the quarter-finals against the Netherlands on Tuesday 19.

‘I’ve been able to prepare pretty well, which is why I’m here, I’ll have to take it day by day,’ the Mallorcan admitted in his comments to the Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET). ‘I haven’t competed for a while and I really just want to experience this week however I can.’

Las primeras palabras de la última #DavisCup de Rafa ?️???

Preparado, motivado y con ganas de soñar ??#CopaDavis #MAPFREtenis pic.twitter.com/00OtuohYb3

‘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,’ he said about what will be an emotional few days for him.

Still, Nadal is quick to remind us that he doesn’t want his personal situation to interfere with his captain David Ferrer’s plans: ‘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.’

‘If I don’t feel ready, I’ll be the first to speak to the captain,’ he insists, outlining his approach. ‘I’ve already told him on a few occasions not to make any decisions based on the fact that it’s my last week as a professional tennis player.’

Nadal continues to use a word that has been a common thread in his career: relish, despite the burden on his legs of 326 tournaments over more than 20 years competing on the circuit.

Since he won his first ATP Tour match – 22 seasons ago – in Mallorca (against Ramón Delgado) aged just 15, he has accumulated a total of 1,080 victories. This tally of matches won has earned him 92 ATP Tour titles, including 22 Grand Slams and 36 ATP Masters 1000s.

‘I couldn’t ask for more, I’m very grateful and satisfied with everything that has happened to me over all these years,’ he said about his legacy.

Now, he has one last wish before he says goodbye to what has been his best ally until today: ‘What I would like is obviously for the team to do well and have the chance to win another Davis Cup, whether I’m playing or cheering them on from the stands, to be honest.’