The season-ending Davis Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands will be an emotional event in the tennis community and beyond sports since iconic Spanish star Rafael Nadal will retire from the sport following this match on home territory. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist, has been one of the sport’s poster boys for the past two decades, with fellow ‘Big Three’ talents Swiss
A final dance at home would be an ideal send-off for the legend, who has recently been hindered by ailments. The 38-year-old will pair up with teenage wonder Carlos Alcarazand Marcel Granollers. According to Olympics.com, the three will be attempting to assist Spain win its first Davis Cup victory since 2019.
Alcaraz and Granollers are rated third in the world in men’s singles and doubles, respectively, and Nadal has won four Davis Cup titles for Spain. The Davis Cup, often known as the World Cup of tennis, is the sport’s largest team event featuring national teams. The Final is the culmination of the competition, which begins with the Final 8 stage or quarter-finals.
Nadal’s Spain will play the Netherlands, with talents like Wesley Koolhof and Tallon Griekspoor, in the Final 8 on Tuesday, and a win over the Dutch will see them face Germany or Canada in their semifinal match On Friday.
The final is set for Sunday, with world-ranked Jannik Sinner of Italy facing the reigning champions, the United States, Australia, and Argentina in the opposite bracket. All of the Davis Cup 2024 Final matches will take place in Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena.