Rafael Nadal has talked candidly about his decision to retire at the age of 38, saying that he would rather quit than put up with physical pain. At the Davis Cup Finals, which will take place in Spain from November 19–24, the Spaniard will say goodbye to his illustrious career.
Along with Carlos Alcaraz, Pedro Martinez, Marcel Granollers, and Roberto Bautista Agut, Nadal will play for Team Spain. David Ferrer will be the team’s non-playing captain. On November 19, Spain will play Team Netherlands in the opening match of their campaign.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion told the media ahead of time that he could have played for another year to bid farewell at every competition. Even so, he declined, stating that he doesn’t think he needs a farewell tour.
Nadal talked about it in a recent press conference and said: “Not a new injury. It’s about the things that I went through, and, I mean, with the surgery last year, and I don’t gonna add the rest of the things that I had, but a few ones, make me feel that I cannot be enough competitive, and I am not able to enjoy my daily basis the way that I need to be competitive at the highest level, no?. So at the end of the day, all related to the question of myself is about, okay, I can hold for one more year, but why? To say goodbye in every single tournament, I don’t have that ego to need that.”
He added: “So in the end is about a feeling that I have been thinking about for a long time. For me, today doesn’t make sense to keep going knowing that I don’t have the real chance to be competitive the way that I like to be competitive, because my body is not able to give me the possibility to do that very often.”
Rafa on retiring
“I can’t be competitive enough & I’m not able to enjoy my training on a daily basis the way that I need to be competitive at the highest level.
I can hold on for 1 more year. But why? To say goodbye at every event..I don’t have that ego to need that.”
🎥: ITF pic.twitter.com/oYIsCYvOXq
— TennisONE App (@TennisONEApp) November 19, 2024
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Now the world no.154, Rafael played his last match on the 29th of July when he lost to world no.7 Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-4 in the 2nd round in Paris (draw).
Presently, during this year the Spaniard has managed to achieve a 12-7 win-loss record. Rafael Nadal’s most significant result of the current year was getting to the final in Bastad.
Rafael Nadal in 2024
Ranked no.154, Nadal played his last match on the 29th of July when he lost to world no.7 Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-4 in the 2nd round in Paris (draw).
Currently, during this season Nadal has achieved a compiled 12-7 match record. Rafael Nadal’s best performance of the present season was reaching the final in Bastad.
