Rafa Nadal has left the tennis world devastated having officially announced he will play one last tournament before retiring, but old foe Lleyton Hewitt and Australia might just be his final hurdle. Nadal announced the Davis Cup in Malaga will be his farewell tournament with the Spaniard always treasuring his time representing his nation, which saw him win the trophy 20 years ago.
Nadal has struggled across the last two years with injury and has only played a handful of tournaments as retirement quickly loomed. And after playing Roland Garros and the Paris Olympics in 2024, the 38-year-old decided it was time to call time after winning 22 grand slams.
Although Nadal is set to take part in one last tournament so fans can farewell the King of Clay and he will be doing it in the knockout stage of the Davis Cup in his home country. In November, Nadal will play the knockout tie against the Netherlands in the quarter-final.
Nadal will team up with Carlos Alcaraz with the duo looking to win their singles matches to help Spain progress. if they are to advance, a match-up against Germany or Canada. Australia will face the USA in a brutal first knockout clash. If they are too advance they will then potentially face Italy in the semi-final.
And if all goes to plan for both Spain and Australia, the two could collide in the Davis Cup final. This would see Hewitt face one more showdown with Nadal. Unfortunately, Australia’s path to the final could me made very difficult with the nation’s top ranked player, Alex de Minaur, appearing unlikely to feature in the tournament after a long year.
De Minaur is attempting to make the ATP Finals at the end of the year and is still struggling with his fitness after an injury at Wimbledon. And Hewitt claimed the 25-year-old should be wary of rushing back to play the Davis Cup tournament, before he is ready.
Rafa Nadal calls time on illustrious career
Nadal called time on his career having acknowledged his body didn’t have more to give after two difficult years with injuries. “The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two, especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations,” Nadal said on Thursday.
“It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end.” Nadal and Roger Federer helped take tennis to a new level with their rivalry arguably the greatest in the sport’s history.
“Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true,” Nadal added. “I leave with the absolute peace of mind of having given my best, of having made an effort in every way.
And Federer took to social media to thank his rival and friend for the memories. “Thank you for the unforgettable memories and all your incredible achievements in the game we love,” Federer told Nadal.
Aussie star Nick Kyrgios and Nadal clashed in the past due to their wildly different personalities on and off the court. However, Kyrgios has always spoken very highly of Nadal’s achievements and once again sent a message of support to the Spaniard after his announcement.
Lleyton Hewitt wary over Alex de Minaur return
While Nadal will be focusing on his final tournament in a little more than a month, Hewitt will also be working out how Australia can make a deep run. But it could come without de Minaur who is battling little injuries after a gruelling season.
The World No.11 is fighting for his place in the end-of-year tournament and Hewitt said he would have to weigh-up his schedule heading into the final stretch. “I’m speaking to him every second day, and it’s certainly been a very frustrating time for him,” Hewitt said at the Australian Open launch in Melbourne.
“He’s had some small niggles in the past that I guess he could better understand what he needed to do to get over it, to get back to 100 per cent as quickly as possible. “This one has been a different case, and mentally it’s been more frustrating.
“As everyone saw, the effort that he put in in New York, for him on one leg, basically, to go out and make a quarter-final was pretty exceptional, and he’s still given himself a chance of being in the Turin (ATP) Finals by doing that as well. So he’s got to weigh up the priorities now as well.
