Rafael Nadal says he wants to contain his emotions until after winning a final Davis Cup as he declared: “I am not here to retire. I am here to help the team.”
The Spanish superstar will end his glittering career at the end of the event in his homeland.
And starting with their first match against the Netherlands on Tuesday, it promises to be an emotional week on and off the court with the dream scenario for him, the team and his country, to end his career with a sixth Davis Cup win on Sunday.
Demand for tickets has skyrocketed – and organisers have hung a massive banner saying: “Gracias Rafa” on the side of the football stadium opposite the Palacios de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena.
Nadal, now 38, was in tears as he held hands with Roger Federer when his fellow superstar retired at the Laver Cup in 2022.
He is the third member of the Big Four to retire after the Swiss and Andy Murray. And Nadal said: “I don’t know how I will feel.
“I am not here to retire. I am here to help the team. The emotion is going to be for the end. Before and during it is about focussing on what we need to do.”
Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, who partnered Nadal in the Olympic doubles, said: “For me to be able to play the Olympic Games was more special to play with Rafa.
“To play in the Davis Cup in the team and share a lot of moments on and off the court, it is going to be super special not just for me but for everyone. The emotions are going to be there for me, the team and everyone.”
Nadal had hip surgery in June 2023 and suffered a new hip problem and an abdominal injury this year. He said his body was like “a jungle” after losing in the first round of the French Open in May.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has played only 23 official singles matches over the past two seasons and is 12-7 this year. He last played at the Olympics in early August and it is not clear how fit he is to play singles or doubles here this week.
“That is for the captain,” he said. “All the players on the team are playing well. It is up to the captain to decide what is best for the team.”
Captain David Ferrer claimed: “I don’t know yet. For tomorrow, I have not yet decided the players who will play tomorrow.”
Marcel Granollers, Roberto Bautista Agut and Pedro Martinez are the other members of the home team.
Spain’s pre-tournament press conference was shifted from the Davis Cup venue to their team hotel to allow hundreds of journalists to attend. Nadal started answering questions in English before speaking in Spanish.
Asked what it meant to finish his career in his homeland, the world No.154 said: “I love my country. I have not been able to move from here ever. It is something I am very happy with.
“It is a chance to thank everyone for the love and support I have here. I have felt very well loved.
“I am not worried about the next chapter in my life. I have had lots of time in my life not playing tennis because of injuries. I accept the challenge of an important change in my life.
“What will I miss most? The atmosphere going out for big matches and the adrenaline during matches. This kind of feeling is difficult to find outside professional sport I think.”
Nadal announced his impending retirement in September after fighting to be fit for the last two years.
“It was not a new injury,” said the 14-time French Open winner. “It was the thing I went through with the surgery last year. I felt I could not be competitive at the highest level. I could have played for one more year but why? To say goodbye at every tournament? I don’t have that ego.”
