Should he quit or should he play on?
Rafael Nadal's future has long been a hot topic of discussion in the tennis world. The 22-time Grand Slam winner has recently chosen to opt out of both the US Open and the Laver Cup, and has several times hinted that his career may be coming to an end.
But still, the 38-year-old injury-plagued player is playing on.
Hasn't been able to play since the Olympic Games
When Spain selected its team for the Davis Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands in Málaga, Nadal's name was on the list. This was appreciated by teammate Carlos Alcaraz.
I don't even want to think about the possibility that it might be his last dance in Málaga, he says.
During the summer's Olympic Games in Paris, Alcaraz and Nadal played doubles together and got the nickname "Nadalcaraz." But since then, Nadal hasn't been able to play at all.
Of course, it's a huge support to have him on the team. He can contribute a lot of experience, says Alcaraz.
"Will be fantastic for the team"
The 21-year-old Alcaraz – who has already won four Grand Slam titles – is often described as Nadal's successor on the Spanish tennis throne. He enjoys playing with him and on the same team.
Getting the chance to spend more time with him, both on and off the court, will be fantastic for the team – but also for the country since we're playing in Spain. Hopefully, it won't be the last time for him, he says.
The Davis Cup finals will take place on November 19-24, and all matches will be played in Málaga. Spain has thus reached the quarterfinal against the Netherlands, and in addition to Nadal and Alcaraz, the team also includes Roberto Bautista Agut, Marcel Granollers, and Pablo Carreño Busta.
The other countries meeting in the quarterfinal are Italy-Argentina, USA-Australia, and Germany-Canada.
