7 october 2024 : Rafael Nadal has been absent from the professional tennis scene since his disappointing run at the Paris Olympics, but it has now been confirmed that the Spaniard will participate in the Davis Cup later this year.
Upon learning about his opponent for the upcoming Davis Cup, Nadal sent a straightforward four-word message to Spanish Davis Cup captain David Ferrer, confirming his involvement. At the Paris Games, Nadal was defeated by Novak Djokovic in the singles event, and in doubles, he and Carlos Alcaraz failed to advance to the medal round.
Nadal withdrew from the Laver Cup last month, citing that he wasn’t in the right physical condition. Despite this, Ferrer is confident that the 22-time Grand Slam champion will be ready for the Davis Cup in November.
“When the draw was announced, I messaged him to get ready to face Botic Van de Zandschulp, and his response was simple: ‘I will be ready,’” Ferrer revealed on the Spanish YouTube channel DGO.
Ferrer expects the 38-year-old Nadal to participate in a couple of events before the Davis Cup to prove his fitness. He mentioned, “He’s set to play in the Six Kings Slam this month, and I’d like him to compete in another event before joining the team. I’ll discuss it with him in the coming weeks.”
Since his early exits at the Olympics, Nadal has largely stayed silent about his physical condition. However, in a rare September interview with Spanish broadcaster El Hormiguero, he expressed his desire to find joy in tennis again.
Nadal admitted missing most of the 2023 season and the start of this year, explaining that he took time off to recover and rediscover his passion for the sport. “I gave myself the chance to enjoy tennis again after being away for a year and a half,” Nadal said. “Now, I’m focusing on enjoying each day and giving my best effort.”
