Carlos Alcaraz, the young rising star of Spanish tennis, is thrilled to be partnering with his legendary compatriot Rafael Nadal for the Davis Cup finals in November. However, Alcaraz expressed his hope that this wouldn’t be Nadal’s farewell performance on the international stage.
The two tennis giants will be representing Spain in the finals, which will be held in Malaga, their home country. This pairing evokes memories of their doubles collaboration at the Paris Olympics. While Nadal, at 38, has been dealing with injuries and fitness struggles, he’s been included in the Spanish team for the Davis Cup despite limited competitive action recently. He has only participated in one of the last seven Grand Slams.
Alcaraz, the four-time major champion, admitted that he missed Nadal at the recent Laver Cup, which Nadal skipped due to injury. In Beijing at the China Open, Alcaraz shared his thoughts: “I don’t want to think that it is a potential last dance for him in Malaga.” He went on to praise Nadal’s contributions to the team, stating: “Obviously it is a great support having him in the team. He can bring a lot of experience. For me, it’s going to be my first Davis Cup final, it’s going to be a great experience for me.”
The 21-year-old star further emphasized the significance of having Nadal on the team: “To have the chance to spend more time off the court, on the court as well with him, it’s going to be great for Team Spain and I think for the country as well that we’re playing in Spain. Hopefully, it’s not going to be the last time for him.”
While Nadal is not in Beijing, his future in tennis remains uncertain as he’s given mixed signals about his plans. The Davis Cup finals, therefore, could mark a significant moment for the tennis legend and his fans.
