Watch: Rafael Nadal reaches Malaga ahead of final professional tennis tournament | Tennis News
NEW DELHI: Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal has touched down in Malaga for what will be the final professional tournament of his storied career.
The upcoming Davis Cup Finals, set to begin on November 19, will mark a special farewell to the 22-time Grand Slam champion, who joins the Spanish team one last time as they vie for the prestigious trophy.
A video shared by the Davis Cup shows Nadal’s glimpses in Malaga, sporting a casual look with a white t-shirt, black trousers, and a black cap.
Watch:
Anticipation is running high for Nadal’s final appearance, and the tennis world is abuzz as fans and fellow athletes prepare to honour the legend.
Tournament director Feliciano Lopez has promised a tribute to celebrate Nadal’s incredible career, though details remain under wraps.
“There’s a lot of things that we’re planning but for now I cannot share any more details with you, but we’re planning something very special,” Lopez said. “We are going to try and live up to his legacy and his enormous career and I hope we’re going to do something very special for him.”
However, in typical humble fashion, Nadal has requested that his farewell does not overshadow the competitive spirit of the event.
“The Davis Cup itself is so important and I don’t think this celebration is going to overshadow the competition, especially as Rafa doesn’t want any of that,” the Spanish legend added.
Interest in Spain’s quarterfinal against the Netherlands has skyrocketed, with tickets selling out rapidly and secondary market prices soaring as fans scramble for a chance to see Nadal’s final performance.
Meanwhile, preparations for the tournament remain on track, despite recent flooding in eastern Spain, and organizers have joined forces with the Spanish Red Cross to support relief efforts for the affected areas.
