Davis Cup 2024 Finals: Spanish Tennis Icon Rafael Nadal To Compete In Singles Action At His Swansong

After a lot of speculation, it has been officially determined that Rafael Nadal will be competing in singles action at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals. At Malaga, the Spanish tennis icon will be entering the Davis Cup Finals tie between Spain and Netherlands, where he will be representing his home side and will battle against Botic van de Zandschulp. Rafael Nadal will be retiring, and the Davis Cup Final will be his swansong.  

Rafael Nadal All Set For Singles Action In Davis Cup 2024 Finals 

Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, was selected to play singles for Spain against the Netherlands on Tuesday at the Davis Cup Final 8, which is his final competition before retiring.  On Day 1 of competition, which took place on an indoor hard court at the sold-out Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in southern Spain, the lineups for both nations were revealed approximately one hour prior to the start of their quarterfinal match.

The first singles match will pit 38-year-old Rafael Nadal against 80th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp, followed by a match between No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and No. 40 Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands. Despite winning 29 straight Davis Cup singles matches, Rafael Nadal hasn't participated in an official match in three and a half months. Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers will play Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof in doubles on Tuesday to decide which team advances to the semifinals if the best-of-three match series is tied at one all after singles.

Also Read: 'Meant Everything To Me': Roger Federer Pens Emotional Letter Ahead Of Rafa Nadal's Farewell Match

After two seasons of limited plays due to injuries, including hip surgery in June 2023, Nadal declared last month that he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup. Over the last two years, he has only played in 23 matches, going 12-7 in singles in 2024. 

It was to be Nadal's first meaningful match since early August at the Paris Olympics , where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the second round of singles and lost to Alcaraz in the doubles quarterfinals. Van de Zandschulp defeated Alcaraz at the U.S. Open. 

Also Read: A Look At Rafael Nadal's 22 Grand Slam Titles As He Prepares To Retire After The Davis Cup

[With AP Inputs]