The Spanish team feels “fortunate” to accompany Rafael Nadal in his farewell | ATP Tour

Davis Cup

The Spanish team feels “fortunate” to accompany Nadal in his farewell

Alcaraz, Ferrer, Bautista, Granollers and Martínez value the farewell of their compatriot

November 18, 2024

Some grew up with him on the court, others were able to enjoy him as a partner for years on the circuit – or even suffer them as a rival – while there are those who wanted to be a tennis player because of his influence. Rafael Nadal’s legacy is eternal and his teammates this week at the Davis Cup Finals define what it means to be with him as he says goodbye.

“I feel lucky to be able to live moments with him on the court and off it,” Carlos Alcaraz does not hesitate to say about one of his great childhood idols. “I would have loved to have shared many more [momentos]continue learning from him both on and off the track. “I feel lucky.”

The current No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings is seventeen years younger than the 22-time Grand Slam champion, but he has had the opportunity to play three matches face to face on the ATP Tour and, above all, share the same side of the court in the doubles modality in the recent edition of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

In the case of David Ferrer the relationship has lasted for twenty years. And the first duel of the 32 recorded by the Lexus ATP Head2Head between the two (26-6 for Nadal) occurred in Stuttgart 2004.

“It is fortunate for all of us to share Rafa’s last moment on a tennis court as a friend, a colleague who has experienced it and suffered it on the court,” confesses the Spanish captain. “[Me siento] “lucky to live these moments with someone you have a special affection for.”

That luck and fortune that Alcaraz and Ferrer insist on is a feeling shared by Roberto Bautista Agut, with whom the Spaniard was training last week in Mallorca before traveling to Malaga.

“Rafa has been an example for all of us, we have been able to learn a lot from him, luckily we have been able to share moments on and off the court, also as Davis’ teammates,” says the man from Castellón who is two years younger than Nadal.

“I feel very lucky to be on the team with him. I’m sure he really wants to do his bit and try to make sure we do well in this Davis Cup,” Bautista continues. “For me, having Rafa on the team brings a lot of good energy, competitiveness, he connects us and makes us all excited, having him with us is very positive.”

Someone who knows Nadal well and who has shared many experiences since they were teenagers is Marcel Granollers, the only player on the Spanish team with whom he shares the year of birth (1986).

“It is very special to have Rafa with us in the team, probably for me he has been the first teammate in the national team, because being of the same age we played when we were younger and we also shared beautiful moments in the Spanish team between the 14 and 16 years old,” Granollers now remembers. “Having him here in his last tournament is very nice for me too.”

Finally, Pedro Martínez takes the floor: “I had not been lucky enough to be so close to him, for me I have seen him play since I was little and have him as an idol, as a reference and now to be able to be here, it is very special and it goes to be very pretty.”

These are the words of tribute and gratitude from the five men who support Nadal in his last week as a professional tennis player.