Davis Cup 2024: Nadal highly anticipated for his last, matches and results

For the last time in his career, Rafael Nadal is playing in the World Cup Davis. One last dance and big emotions.

The Davis Cup finals begin on Tuesday, November 19, with the eight nations that qualified during the group stage, without France, which was eliminated a few months ago. Spain, Italy, the United States, Argentina, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada and Germany will be there. But what will be Rafael Nadal's role in this competition ? The Spanish legend has indicated that he is ready to sacrifice the singles matches. “I want to help in any way I can, whether it's playing or not, just being there and doing what I can,” he added. “First, I have to see how I feel in practice. If I don't see myself really ready to have a chance to win singles, I'll be the first one not wanting to play. Sometimes you see yourself ready and things go really bad.”

“If I'm on the court, I hope I'll control myself because I'm here to help the team. Of course it'll be my last week on the professional circuit. But we're here in a team competition. The most important thing is to help the team, to stay focused on what we have to do. The rivalry is strong, the playing conditions are difficult. I'll save the emotions for the end. Before and during, I'll try to stay focused on what I have to do” he said. Good news for the fans, the Spaniard will be present for the match against the Netherlands where he will face Botic van de Zandschlup.

Latest updates

15:11 – Nadal trains

Even if the official composition will come at 4 p.m., we now know with almost certainty that the Spaniard will start. He is currently at warm-up with Roberto Bautista-Agut.

15:00 – A 2-0 record for Nadal

The four-time Davis Cup winner leads 2-0 in his confrontations with the Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp (80th in the world). He had won each time, without conceding a single set, in the third round of Roland-Garros (6-3, 6-2, 6-4) and then in the eighth finals of Wimbledon (6-4, 6-2, 7-6 [6]).

14:00 – Federer's tribute to Nadal

“Vamos, Rafa!

As you prepare to retire from tennis, I have a few things to tell you before I get carried away by emotion.

Let's start with the obvious: you beat me, a lot. More than I ever beat you. You challenged me like no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was walking in your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought possible just to hang in there. You made me reimagine my game, even to the point of changing the size of my racket head, hoping to gain an advantage.

I'm not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like soldiers in formation, doing your hair, adjusting your underwear… All of it with the utmost intensity. Secretly, I kind of liked it all. Because it was so unique, it was so you.

And you know what, Rafa, you made me appreciate the game even more.

Well, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I reached number one in the world rankings for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was, until two months later, you walked onto the court in Miami in your red tank top, showing off your biceps, to beat me soundly. All that buzz I had heard about you, about this incredible young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, who would probably win a major tournament one day, was not just publicity.

We were both at the beginning of our journey and it was a journey that we ended up doing together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: what an incredible journey you had. Including 14 Roland Garros, historic! You made Spain proud… you made the tennis world proud.

And then there was London, the Laver Cup in 2022. My last match. It meant the world to me that you were there by my side, not as a rival, but as a doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night and sharing those tears will forever be never one of the most special moments of my career.

Rafa, I know you are focused on the final stretch of your epic career. We will talk about it when it is over. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who have all played a huge role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is still cheering for you and will cheer just as hard for whatever you do next.

Rafa, that's it!

Yours truly, your fan, Roger Federer”

13:00 – The rest of the matches

On Wednesday, Germany and Canada face off on the Spanish courts in a bid to secure a spot in the semi-finals. On November 21, we will meet Italy, the current title holder. The transalpine team is led by world number one Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti and captain Filippo Volandri. In the quarter-finals, the Italians will face Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry. On the American side, Taylor Fritz's teammates will challenge Australia.

It's official, the Spaniard will play at Malaga for the match against the Netherlands. The Spaniard is lined up against the young Botic van de Zandschlup at 5pm!

12:00 – Spain enters the competition tonight

First match of the Davis Cup finals, David Ferrer's Spain faces the Netherlands from 5pm this Tuesday, at the Palacio de Deportes Martin Carpena. It is not yet known who the players will be lined up for this first match and whether Rafael Nadal will play the match.