Rafael Nadal of Spain during a press conference in Fuengirola, near Malaga, on Monday. — AFP
Rafael Nadal is aiming to keep his emotions in check until the conclusion of the Davis Cup competition and is focused on Spain's upcoming quarterfinal tie against the Netherlands. As he prepares for his final professional tournament, Nadal and his Spanish teammates addressed the media ahead of their clash with the Dutch in Malaga on Tuesday.
"I am not here for retiring. I'm here to try to help the team," Nadal stated on Monday. "It's of course going to be my last week on the professional tour, but at the end, we are here in a teams competition."
"The most important thing here is to stay all focused on what we have to do, that is play tennis and to do it very well. Because the rival is going to be difficult, and the conditions are difficult too. So then the emotions are going to be for the end."
Nadal, who will conclude a career spanning nearly 23 years, has not participated in an official singles match since his second-round exit at the Olympics in July. The former world number one has been training hard for the past six weeks to be ready for the Davis Cup, but the decision on whether he will play singles or doubles against the Netherlands rests with Spain's captain, David Ferrer.
"Of course when you are not competing very often, it's a little bit more difficult to hold the level on a constant basis, I've had good moments and more difficult moments. I think the improvement is there every day, but, I mean, we have a great team on Spain," Nadal explained.
Ferrer has yet to finalize his lineup for the quarterfinals and will announce his selections on Tuesday before the tie. Nadal, with a 29-1 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles matches and an 8-4 record in doubles, last competed in the inter-nation team competition in 2019, helping Spain win a sixth Davis Cup title.
Joining Nadal on Spain's squad this week are reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut, Pedro Martinez, and Marcel Granollers. Nadal's career has been marred by injuries, particularly over the past two years, leading him to decide to retire, acknowledging he can no longer maintain a competitive level on tour.
"I achieved the most important thing for me, because I arrived to this day and I am in peace that I gave all that I had," Nadal reflected. "I'm going to leave this professional tour with the calm and with the personal satisfaction that I gave my best almost in every single moment."
Nadal expressed that he is "not worried" about the next chapter of his life and must "accept the process" of this significant transition. Novak Djokovic, Nadal's long-time rival, plans to be in Malaga for the Spaniard's final tournament. Regarding Roger Federer's potential appearance, Nadal said, "I didn't talk to Roger. I think Roger has a busy schedule."
"This is going to be my last week on the professional tour, but I don't think it's going to be my last goodbye. So there's going to be other chances to do something," Nadal concluded.
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