FUENGIROLA, Spain: Neither Rafael Nadal nor Spanish captain David Ferrer would say Monday whether the 22-time Grand Slam champion will play singles or doubles – or even at all – at the Davis Cup Final 8, his last event before retirement.
Spain is scheduled to face the Netherlands on Tuesday in the quarterfinals on an indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena. The winner will play in the semifinals on Friday. The championship will be decided on Sunday.
Asked at a news conference how he has been feeling in practice in recent days and whether he is ready to play, Nadal said: “That’s a question for the captain.” That response drew a smile and laugh from Ferrer, sitting to Nadal’s left.
Moments later at a hotel in Fuengirola, about 12 miles south of the arena in Malaga, the question of Nadal’s participation was put to Ferrer.
“I don’t know yet,” Ferrer said. “At the moment, I have not decided the players that are going to play tomorrow.”
The 38-year-old Nadal announced last month that he would walk away from tennis after the Davis Cup at home in Spain. He has been dealing with a series of injuries the past two seasons and has been limited to fewer than 25 official matches in that span.
“I’m not here to retire. I’m here to help the team win. It’s my last week in a team competition and the most important thing is to help the team. The emotions will come later,” said Nadal, wearing the squad’s red polo shirt with a tiny red-and-yellow Spanish flag on the left sleeve.
“I’m enjoying the week. I’m not putting too much attention to the retirement,” Nadal said. “It will be a big change in my life after this week.”
Nadal said it doesn’t “make sense to keep going knowing that I don’t have the real chance to be competitive the way that I like to be competitive because my body” won’t allow it.
He hasn’t played an official match since the Paris Olympics in early August. He lost in the second round of singles to Novak Djokovic and in the quarterfinals of doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz.
“I’ve tried to prepare as hard as possible for the last month and a half. I’m trying to give my best for this event,” Nadal said. “When you don’t compete so often, it’s difficult to maintain the level consistently. But the improvement is there every day. I believe that.”
Spain’s Davis Cup team also includes Alcaraz, Marcel Granollers, Roberto Bautista Agut and Pedro Martinez.
Rafael Nadal, Spain’s Davis Cup captain won’t say whether he’ll play before retirement
https://arab.news/m7hd2
Rafael Nadal, Spain’s Davis Cup captain won’t say whether he’ll play before retirement
- Spain is scheduled to face the Netherlands on Tuesday in the quarterfinals
- Nadal announced last month that he would walk away from tennis after the Davis Cup
Driving force behind Saudi motorsport lauds partnership with Formula E ahead of Jeddah E-Prix 2026
- Prince Khalid bin Sultan: We are proud to continue our partnership with Formula E, which represents a model for the future of sports based on innovation and sustainability
- Alberto Longo: We are delighted to be in the Kingdom, and we view Saudi Arabia as a long-term strategic partner in building the future of electric motorsport globally
JEDDAH: The driving force behind Saudi motorsport, Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, has lauded its partnership with Formula E ahead of the Jeddah E-Prix.
“For Saudi Arabia to host such prestigious international motor races is a great honor. We are proud of that, as part of our drive to achieve the aims of Saudi Arabia Vision 2030,” said Prince Khalid bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and the Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC).
The announcement was made at a major press conference that took place at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Thursday in the presence of Alberto Longo, the Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer of Formula E and Carlo Boutagy, the Founder and CEO of CBX.
Speaking ahead of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, taking place at the iconic Jeddah Corniche Circuit on 13 and 14 February 2026, Prince Khalid told press: “Since hosting its first international race in 2018, motorsports in the Kingdom has witnessed a qualitative leap in terms of organization, audience attendance, and global standing, and today the Kingdom has become a major stop on the calendar of the most important international championships.”
He added: “We are proud to continue our partnership with Formula E, which represents a model for the future of sports based on innovation and sustainability, and is fully aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”
For his part, Alberto Longo, the Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer of Formula E, stated that Saudi Arabia was among the first partners to believe in the vision of Formula E, he said: “We are proud that our first major international station in the region is part of the transformation path led by Vision 2030.”
He added: “We are delighted to be in the Kingdom, and we view Saudi Arabia as a long-term strategic partner in building the future of electric motorsport globally.”
Carlo Boutagy, the Founder and CEO of CBX spoke to the press about the event and what the Formula E enthusiasts expect this year, he said: “The Jeddah E-Prix achieved great popular and organizational success in the last edition, with tickets selling out before the race date, which reflects the rapid growth of motorsports in the Kingdom.”
“Today we are not just talking about a race, but about a complete experience that includes competition, entertainment, audience interaction, and presenting a modern model for the sports events industry in the Kingdom,” he added.
He pointed out that beyond racing, the event offers a full entertainment experience, including concerts, interactive fan zones, and global sponsor activities designed to engage attendees of all ages.
