Rafael Nadal opines why his participation chances are uncertain at the star-studded Spanish Davis Cup team
Rafael Nadal expresses his willingness about participating at the Davis Cup following David Ferrer's appointment as the new team captain.
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Rafael Nadal - FirstSportz
It has been a great year for the World No 2 Rafael Nadal. He clinched two Grand Slam singles titles and was undefeated till his loss at the US Open. He has left millions inspired in the last two decades with his hard work, passion, and fighting spirit. The Spaniard desires to play at the Davis Cup for the final time. But is uncertain about his chances due to his hectic schedule.
The 36-year-old was on the verge of achieving a calendar slam. But his untimely abdominal injury during Wimbledon hindered his momentum. Rafael Nadal lost four of his last five matches and was hoping to win the Year-end Championship but that remains unfilled. He will kickstart his 2023 campaign with his participation in the United Cup.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion was part of the Davis Cup in 2019 and the team went ahead to win its fifth title. The Spanish team has players like Carlos Alcaraz, Pablo Carreno Busta, and Roberto Bautista Agut along with Nadal which makes them one of the favorites. With the appointment of David Ferrer as the new captain of the national team, he looks forward to his participation.
During an interview, the 14-time French Open champion said “First of all, we must thank Sergi Bruguera, he has led us to great results. Now comes another era with David. We have shared a lot. Regarding Davis, I am aware that I have few options left, but in my ideal world, I would like to play one last time and say goodbye. But there is a calendar and I don’t know what will happen. The fact of playing in Spain, with a very complete team, is extra motivation. But the motivation to play for your country has always been the maximum. But the years go by.“
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Rafael Nadal honored with the AS Sports Award for bringing laurels to his country
His list of accolades and achievements stands unmatched and needs no introduction. The 22-time Grand Slam champion added another achievement by maintaining his position in the Top 10 for 900 consecutive weeks. Rafael Nadal is the first player to achieve this feat in the Open Era. He entered the Top 10 as an 18-year-old in 2005 and since then, has maintained his dominance.
It is also the longest Top 10 streak in the ATP rankings history. Jimmy Connors is 2nd on the list with 788 weeks and Roger Federer at the 3rd position with 734 consecutive weeks. Moreover, the Mallorcan has been honored with the AS Sports Award recently in a ceremony held at Palace Hotel in Madrid. This is the sixth time when the Spaniard received this award.
Nadal parted ways with fellow compatriot Francisco Roig who had been with him for nearly two decades. Roig had joined his camp back in 2005 and was an integral part of his team alongside his uncle, Toni Nadal. But the 4-time US Open champion wasted no time to find a new coach from his academy in Mallorca.
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Prateek Pradhan
(601 Articles Published)