Rafael Nadal shocked the tennis world this week with the announcement that he’ll play his final professional match at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month. The news has fans and former players reeling, including Ivan Ljubicic, Roger Federer’s ex-coach, who admitted he didn’t see this coming. Despite his struggles with recurring injuries over the past two years, many hoped Nadal could still defy time and return to his former glory.
Nadal’s comeback attempts this season were short-lived; after a brief showing during the clay season, his injuries held him back, forcing him to miss the US Open and Laver Cup. His last official match was in the Paris Olympics, where he and Carlos Alcaraz made it to the quarterfinals. Now, the Spanish legend has confirmed his final bow at the Davis Cup, where he’ll bring years of experience to Spain’s squad—an event he’s won five times throughout his illustrious career.
Currently in Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam, Nadal will face Alcaraz again in an exhibition match for a spot in the final, his first outing since August. While it’s not a ranking event, the Kings Slam offers substantial rewards, with each player taking home at least $1.5 million and the winner pocketing $6 million. For Nadal, though, the prize is just a sideshow; he’s set to go out on his own terms, with an indelible legacy etched in tennis history.
