Rafael Nadal says he’s ’emotionally’ ready to end his career at Davis Cup following his semifinal defeat to Carlos Alcaraz at Six Kings Slam
After the Six Kings Slam match against Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal talked about whether he's ready for the final tournament of his career.
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Rafael Nadal (Image via X)
Will Rafael Nadal be physically fit for the Davis Cup? It’s going to be Nadal’s final tournament of his career, and he wants to play good tennis to help his country. Nadal currently is in Riyadh as he is participating in the Six Kings Slam exhibition event.
He played in the semifinals against Carlos Alcaraz and was defeated in straight sets. Following the match, Nadal talked about whether he is prepared for the Davis Cup, which will be held in Malaga next month.
Will I be ready for the Davis Cup? Emotionally, for sure. Physically and game-wise… It’s a month left. I will try to prepare and be in good shape to help the team. If I feel ready and my captain picks me, I will be on the court. Otherwise, I won’t.
Rafael Nadal said after the match
Nadal has been struggling with fitness problems since 2023. He suffered a hip injury at the Australian Open, had surgery, and remained on the sidelines for the rest of the season. Then he returned to court in Brisbane in 2024, but an abdominal injury forced him to skip a few more tournaments. The Barcelona Open was the tournament where he made his much-awaited comeback.
Carlos Alcaraz shares heartfelt message for Rafael Nadal after Six Kings Slam encounter
Prior to the Six Kings Slam, Rafael Nadal met Carlos Alcaraz three times and defeated him twice on the ATP Tour. Thursday’s semifinal was Alcaraz’s last match against his idol and so the 21-year-old took to his social media accounts to share a heartwarming message for the retiring Nadal.
It was a privilege to play against Rafa one last time! Once again, thank you for your legacy and for being an inspiration to all of us! See you very soon in Malaga, but this time both wearing the colours of Spain.
Carlos Alcaraz wrote on X
Check the post here:
It was a privilege to play against Rafa one last time! ❤️ Once again, thank you for your legacy and for being an inspiration to all of us! See you very soon in Malaga, but this time both wearing the colours of ?? @RiyadhSeason
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) October 17, 2024
? Getty pic.twitter.com/WH99KWgaWx
After the 2024 Barcelona Open, Nadal played four more tournaments on the clay swing and later participated at the Paris Olympics where tennis matches were held at Roland Garros. Novak Djokovic knocked him out in singles, while in doubles, he and Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals.
The semifinal against Alcaraz at the Six Kings Slam was the first match Nadal played since the Paris Olympics. He even withdrew from the US Open. Nadal is 12–7 on the season and the only final he reached was at the Nordea Open. The King of Clay will take on Djokovic for the last time on Saturday.
Alcaraz on the other hand, has bagged four ATP titles (including two Grand Slam trophies). He is 51–10 on the season and will lock horns with Jannik Sinner in the Six Kings Slam final. Sinner defeated Djokovic to set up the clash with Alcaraz.
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Gouri Das
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