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To celebrate the end of Rafael Nadal's historic career at this week's Davis Cup Final 8, ATPTour.com is publishing a series of articles paying tribute to the Spaniard.

Rafael Nadal lit up courts around the world during his 21-year career, with the Spaniard one of the top competitors in the history of the game.

The 37-year-old relished a battle and so often came out on top due to his unparalleled fighting spirit, relentless determination and unwavering commitment to every point. As he prepares for his final tour-level event, the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8, he has stepped onto court 1,307 times, coming out as the winner on 1,080 occasions.

ATPTour.com looks back at 10 of Nadal’s most memorable matches, featuring Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Guillermo Coria, Ivan Ljubicic, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco and Daniil Medvedev.

2004 Davis Cup Final
Rafael Nadal d. Andy Roddick 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-6 (6), 6-2

To celebrate the end of Rafael Nadal's historic career at this week's Davis Cup Final 8, ATPTour.com is publishing a series of articles paying tribute to the Spaniard.

As Rafael Nadal retires, fans will remember one of the ATP Tour’s greatest competitors. They will also reflect on one of tennis’ most iconic ambassadors, both on and off the court.

The Spaniard was a hugely popular presence at tournaments around the world throughout his career. His on-court exploits earned him millions of fans globally, and his humble and gracious conduct off the court ensured he kept them.

To celebrate the end of Nadal’s illustrious career, ATPTour.com looks back at some of the light-hearted, unique, and fun moments provided by the Spaniard over the past two decades.

The Superstitious Spaniard?
When Nadal arrived on the scene as a teenage prodigy from Mallorca in 2004, some of his on-court behaviours caught the eye. They included him being meticulous with the placement of his water bottles by his chair, always letting his opponent cross the net before he did during a changeover, and always pushing his hair behind his ear before each serve.

Goodbyes habitually go hand-in-hand with feelings of sadness and nostalgia. In the case of Rafael Nadal at this week’s Davis Cup Finals, however, he is trying to keep the emotions surrounding his last few days as a professional tennis player at bay. As a result, despite being very much at peace with his situation, he is reluctant to discuss a dream scenario for his swansong.

“There’s no ideal farewell,” Nadal was quick to point out at Team Spain’s press conference on Monday in Malaga ahead of its quarter-final against the Netherlands on Tuesday. “Movie-script finales are for American movies and I realised a long time ago that I wouldn’t have one of those, so it’s not something that I’m worried about.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is keen to downplay the significance of his farewell, normalising the inevitable process of retirement that every athlete has to endure. “I’m handling it as well as possible, with the same normality with which I’ve tried to approach everything during good and bad times, without any kind of excess.”

[ATP AWARDS]

While the questions were almost all directed at the man of the moment, his teammates at the table, Carlos Alcaraz, David Ferrer, Roberto Bautista Agut, Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez occasionally touched on their admiration for Nadal’s career. They could have been speaking on behalf of the whole sporting world and every lover of the game.

Some grew up alongside him on court, others enjoyed having him as a peer during their years on Tour (despite often having to endure his feats from the opposite side of the net). Then there are those who dreamed of being a tennis player because of him. Rafael Nadal’s legacy is eternal. His teammates this week at the Davis Cup Finals spoke about what it means to them to be with him as he says his final goodbye.

“I feel lucky to be able to share moments with him on and off the court,” Carlos Alcaraz said of one of his childhood heroes. “I would have loved to have shared so many more [moments], to keep learning from him both on the court and off it. I feel fortunate.”

The current No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings Alcaraz is 17 years younger than the 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal, but he was lucky enough to face him in three matches on the ATP Tour and, above all, share the same side of the net with him in the doubles at the recent Olympic Games in Paris.

David Ferrer’s relationship with Nadal goes back 20 years. The first match of the 32 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series (26-6 to Nadal) came in Stuttgart in 2004.

“We’re all fortunate to be here for Rafa’s last moment on a tennis court as a friend and a teammate. I’ve shared with him and suffered at his hands on court,” admitted the Spanish captain. “I feel lucky to share these moments with someone who I have special affection for.”

Anticipation is soaring as some of the brightest prospects on the Tour are gearing up for the seventh edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

For our new series, Journey To Jeddah, ATP Tour has been closely following those who are bidding to make history at the 20-and-under season finale, which is to be held from 18-22 December at the King Abdullah Sports City. Watch the trailer below for a taste of this exclusive, behind-the-scenes series.

Leading the charge in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah are Arthur Fils, Alex Michelsen and Jakub Mensik, who have blazed a trail through the 2024 season. While their performances have established them as frontrunners, they are not alone. Among their challengers is Joao Fonseca, whose drive to compete with the generation’s best has propelled him into contention for the coveted finale.

“To play with the eight best players under 20, I dream to play with them in this tournament,” said 18-year-old Fonseca.

Taylor Fritz’s run to the championship match at the Nitto ATP Finals has propelled the American to a career-high World No. 4 as the 2024 season draws to a close.

ATPTour.com looks at the movers in the PIF ATP Rankings as of Monday, 18 November.

No. 4 Taylor Fritz, +1 (Career High)
Fritz became the first American to reach the Nitto ATP Finals championship match since 2006 by seeing off Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur in the group stage in Turin and snapping Alexander Zverev’s eight-match winning stream in the semi-finals. Although he could not overcome World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in either group play or the championship match, the 27-year-old has risen one spot to a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

No. 6 Casper Ruud, +1
Despite arriving in Turin having won just two matches since the US Open, Ruud added to his impressive Nitto ATP Finals record by reaching the semi-finals for the third time in as many appearances in Turin. The Norwegian upset Carlos Alcaraz in his opening match and also defeated Andrey Rublev in group play before falling to eventual champion Sinner in the semi-finals. Ruud has risen two spots to finish 2024 as World No. 6, his highest position since April.

No. 92 Borna Coric, +5
Croatia’s Coric will hope to have kick-started a late season resurgence with his quarter-final run at last week’s ATP Challenger Tour event in Lyon. The former World No. 12 has climbed five spots to World No. 92, and will seek to move further upwards with a strong showing at the Challenger event in Rovereto this week.

Nishesh Basavareddy’s late-season charge to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF has picked up some serious pace.

With his latest run to the title match at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Champaign, the 19-year-old American has fired himself into eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. Basavareddy, who is 19 points adrift of seventh-placed Joao Fonseca, has won 20 of his past 25 matches.

Basavareddy’s red-hot form, during which he has clinched his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title and made three separate appearances in finals, has propelled him into firm contention to make his debut in Jeddah.

PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah

Fonseca bolstered his chances of securing a spot in Jeddah with his run to the semi-finals at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Lyon. On the way, the 18-year-old Brazilian picked up a crucial win over fellow Jeddah hopeful Martin Landaluce in the last eight.

For more than three decades, chair umpire Carlos Bernardes enjoyed the best seat in the house. One of the sport's most respected officials, the Brazilian has presided over some of the game’s most memorable showdowns in tennis’s grandest arenas.

From Sampras and Agassi to the unforgettable Federer-Nadal rivalries, Bernardes has been right there, courtside, keeping order. His storied journey came to a fitting close on the ATP Tour this week at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he officiated his final ATP Tour match in the title showdown.

Bernardes reminisced on his career to ATPTour.com in Turin.

"My first contact with tennis was as a kid in Brazil. We used to jump the fence to play at the local club until we finally registered there. Since then, I’ve been part of the game, and I feel so fortunate to have had these experiences,” Bernardes said.

In 1984, Bernardes began coaching and soon found his way into officiating as a line judge at a regional Billie Jean King Cup tie in Sao Paulo. Balancing coaching and officiating across South America, his breakthrough came in 1992 when he joined the ATP Tour as a chair umpire.

Taylor Fritz made significant progress in 2024. The American reached his maiden major final at the US Open and this week advanced to the title match at the Nitto ATP Finals, ending the season at a career-high No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

The American lost in straight sets to Jannik Sinner in the final in Turin on Sunday night but is delighted with his year overall.

“It's been a really good week for me. Obviously, it's a good way to end the year. It gives me a lot of confidence finishing the season like this,” Fritz said. “Something I told my team in 2023 when I hit World No. 5 for a week right before I was defending the Indian Wells title, was 'That's crazy, I'm five the world, look at all these guys ranked behind me that are probably better than me’.

“Back then I was five, but I didn't feel like I was five. Now I'm ranked where I'm at. I feel like I belong. It's a different feeling. It's been a great year. That gives me a lot of confidence to have that belief. That's a huge part of having the big results. The goals I set for myself at the start of the year was to finish Top 5.”

Fritz earned wins against Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur to become the first American to reach the Nitto ATP Finals title match since James Blake in 2006. However, the 27-year-old had no answers against Sinner, who also beat the fifth seed in the round-robin stage by the same scoreline as the final.

Fans following the Nitto ATP Finals on social media this week had a fun new way to engage with the season finale.

Through a combination of Augmented Reality technology, 3D modelling and live data, fans were able to enjoy select hot shots from the Nitto ATP Finals in a first for the tournament, with a younger audience firmly in mind.

The clips began with a stunning Casper Ruud lob and would go on to include a Daniil Medvedev backhand, Carlos Alcaraz's dazzling court coverage, Taylor Fritz's Thor-like forehand and Alexander Zverev's electric backhand.

To view the full AR immersive hot shots on Instagram, click this link or scan the QR code at the top of the page.

Watch all of them in our AR playlist below.

In a season where expectation was rarely voiced but excellence was constantly delivered, Jannik Sinner emerged as a standout performer.

The Italians emphatic victory at the Nitto ATP Finals on Sunday was even sweeter as it marked his first title on home soil, tying a bow on an impressive year. It is a year in which he has posted a 70-6 record, including triumphs at the Australian Open, US Open and the prestigious season finale in Turin, yet Sinner is still hungry for more.

“I actually believe there is still a gap of improvement,” Sinner said following his 6-4, 6-4 win over Taylor Fritz in the title match in Turin, “Today I served very, very good at times, which was not the case throughout the whole tournament. There are still certain shots and points that I can do better, but [these] are small details.

“The higher you play level-wise, the more details make the difference. I’m always trying to improve as a player and trying to understand what I can do better.”

Let the celebrations begin ?@ConsorzioAsti | #AstiVibe | #partner pic.twitter.com/JDLyz8H745

It was an avalanche of short rallies that once again buried Taylor Fritz.

Jannik Sinner defeated Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the Nitto ATP Finals on Sunday with another all-conquering performance in the first four shots of the point. Sinner defeated Fritz by the same scoreline in their round-robin match earlier in the week. The Italian was simply too strong with the first two times he struck the ball in the point all evening long.

In their round-robin match, Sinner won six (43-37) more points in the 0-4 rally length, according to Infosys ATP Stats. In the final, Sinner once again crafted an identical six-point advantage, winning the first strike points 46-40. In the final, a sizable 74 per cent (86/117) of all points were played in short rallies, ramping up the significance of winning this rally length since it counted for almost three out of every four points played.

Sinner won the mid-length rallies of 5-8 shots by only one shot, eight to seven. He won it by only two shots (18-16) in their round-robin encounter. Sinner won the long rallies of 9+ shots by two shots (9-7) in both the round-robin match and the final. Sinner was essentially allowed to copy and paste the identical first-strike tactics from one match to the other. The problem for Fritz was that he could not switch up his tactics enough to make a difference.

Jannik Sinner capped a historic season on Sunday when he defeated Taylor Fritz to claim his first Nitto ATP Finals title.

In recognition of the Italian’s year, ATPTour.com looks at five fun facts about Sinner’s memorable season.

He became the first Italian No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history
Sinner began his 2024 season at World No. 4, but he would not stay there long. By 10 June, the then-22-year-old had made history.

The Italian became the first player from his country to become World No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings. He has not looked back since, holding the spot through the end of the year.

Sinner clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours during the Rolex Shanghai Masters in October.

The Nitto ATP Finals came to a close on Sunday with a memorable day of championship matches, headlined by Jannik Sinner’s victory against Taylor Fritz and Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz’s triumph in doubles.

ATPTour.com relives the day through the ATP Tour’s social media channels.

Sinner became the first Italian Nitto ATP Finals champion in tournament history. The 23-year-old defeated Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in the final to lift the trophy.

THE UNDEFEATED ITALIAN KING ???

In front of his adoring public, World No. 1 @janniksin becomes the first Italian to capture the Nitto ATP Finals title, defeating Fritz 6-4 6-4!!!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/fObgL0n4U9

The day began with the doubles final. Krawietz and Puetz became the first German team to capture glory at the season finale. The eighth seeds battled past top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 7-6(5), 7-6(6) in a gripping championship clash.

The ATP and FITP have today announced that the ATP Finals will be staged in Italy for a further five years, through 2030. The extension follows a five-year term through 2025 in Turin, where the ATP’s season finale has excelled.

The Nitto ATP Finals has experienced standout success in Italy, reinforcing its legacy as a major global sporting event and the crown jewel of the Tour. This year in Turin, the event attracted a record-breaking on-site audience of more than 183,000, with all 15 sessions sold out across the eight days. Prize money in 2024 reached $15.25 million – an all-time tournament record. With five additional years of collaboration, ATP and FITP will continue to drive progress, capitalising on Italy’s position as one of the world’s strongest and most established tennis markets.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: “Over the past four years, Italy has shown itself as an incredible host of our most prestigious event, with the vision to create a truly special experience for both players and fans. Thank you to FITP and all event partners for their support over the past four years. We look forward to continuing to raise the bar together.”

FITP President Angelo Binaghi said: “Tennis has a special place in the history and culture of this country. The Nitto ATP Finals are treasured by Italian fans, and this connection is now stronger than ever with Jannik Sinner as the World No.1. We look ahead with excitement, confident in the knowledge that this event will continue to grow even stronger in the years ahead.”

The location options beyond 2025 are under evaluation, with further updates to be provided in due course.

Jannik Sinner bookended his stellar season in style Sunday by capturing his maiden Nitto ATP Finals trophy.

The home favourite produced a near-flawless performance to down Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 and become the first Italian champion in the tournament’s 55-year history. Sinner's standout year, which began with victory at the Australian Open, has concluded with his first title on home soil. All dimensions Sinner's vastly improved game were on full display throughout the contest, but his serve proved to be the distinct weapon, from which he won 83 per cent (33/40) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“It’s amazing, it’s my first title in Italy and it means so much to me,” said Sinner, who improved to 50-3 on hard courts in 2024. “It’s something very special. I just tried to understand what works best for each opponent, trying to play my best possible tennis. That was the key.

“It was a very high level tournament from my side. At times, I couldn't have played better, so I am very happy.”

THE UNDEFEATED ITALIAN KING ???

In front of his adoring public, World No. 1 @janniksin becomes the first Italian to capture the Nitto ATP Finals title, defeating Fritz 6-4 6-4!!!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/fObgL0n4U9

Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz signed off their season in style in Turin Sunday by capturing their maiden Nitto ATP Finals trophy.

The eighth seeds downed year-end No. 1 doubles team Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic 7-6(5), 7-6(6) to become the first German duo to clinch the title in the tournament's 55-year history. In a highly clinical display of serving from both teams, Krawietz and Puetz held their nerve in two tie-breaks to seal victory in one-hour, 38 minutes.

“I don't know how to put it into words, it's an amazing achievement from us,” said Krawietz. “I’m very proud of us, we are proud of the whole team, everyone at home. To end the year here winning the title, it’s unbelievable.”

History is made in Turin ???

Kevin Krawietz & @GoldenSetTim become the first Germans to win the Nitto ATP Finals doubles title!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/xq9F9eV0CA

After securing their second title of the year, Krawietz and Puetz guaranteed they finish the 2024 season as No. 4 in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings. It marks the third time that Krawietz has finished a season in a team inside the Top 5.

Two years ago Taylor Fritz made his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals and advanced to the semi-finals. On Sunday, the American will try to cap his second appearance in the season finale with a trophy.

But the fifth seed will face a big challenge in the final at the Inalpi Arena when he stands across the net from top seed Jannik Sinner. It is a rematch of both this year’s US Open final and a clash from Group Ilie Nastase play earlier this week.

“I thought the match here was actually even a higher level from both guys. Jannik is extremely even-keeled,” Fritz’s coach, Michael Russell, told ATPTour.com. “He’s just so calm under pressure and explosive out of the corners. He’s very agile and able to turn defence into offence better than most of the guys on Tour, which makes it challenging.

“But Taylor knows that and Taylor, when he serves how he can serve with high percentages, it puts so much pressure on his opponents. He has a lot of confidence and he’s hitting the ball great.”

Watch Fritz Turin SF Highlights:

A day after being knocked out of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Carlos Alcaraz landed in Málaga to join the Spanish team, which will take the court against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Final 8. It’s a competition that is always special, but this time will be a momentous occasion because it will be Rafael Nadal’s last tournament as a professional.

And the significance of it hasn’t eluded Alcarez. Far from it.

‘It’s probably the most special tournament I’ll play in my career, because of what’s happening, because of the circumstances,’ Alcaraz began. ‘The Davis Cup has always been a tournament that I’d love to win one day, I’m passionate about representing Spain. I’ve said it many times: one of the greatest things in the world is being able to represent your country in any field. Having Rafa by my side, knowing it’s his last tournament, will make it much more special,’ he went on.

‘I’ll try to contribute and help the team any way I can – for me, for Spain and especially for Rafa. No player deserves more to finish the incredible career he had with a title, and I know how special the Davis Cup is for him. It will be a difficult challenge but winning it for Rafa is a huge motivation.’

Alcaraz, 21, is clear about what the priorities are for the next week, aware that Nadal’s farewell is a unique moment in his life.