The coach of Rafael Nadal has admitted he is “not prepared” for the icon’s final few days as a professional player. The 22-time Grand Slam champion will officially retire after the Davis Cup Finals, with Spain set to take on Netherlands in their quarter-final later today (Tuesday).
Nadal was only initially due to play in the doubles in Malaga, but is now expected to feature in the singles as he bids to end his career on a high note.
And now Carlos Moya, who first joined Nadal’s coaching staff in 2016, has given an emotional insight into his feelings about the 38-year-old bidding farewell.
“I have fully accepted it because it’s not something that happened overnight,” he said. “It’s a decision he has carefully considered, we’ve talked a lot about it. It’s not a sudden thing.”
However, Moya, a one-time French Open champion, isn’t prepared to contemplate the possibility of Tuesday’s tie being the last time his man steps onto a court.
Spain will be eliminated if they lose both singles matches, which will render the potential deciding doubles clash irrelevant.
“What I’m not prepared for is today being Rafa’s last day as an active player,” he added. “That’s something I can’t wrap my head around, but I have come to terms with the fact that this is the last week.
“My hope and excitement are to be here until Sunday. Everything has its time, and we are here to celebrate Rafa and thank him for all he has given to so many people. For now, I’m fully behind him and happy to be here.”
Spain captain David Ferrer has thus far been coy on how he’ll deploy Nadal. But the legend himself, who has won 29 of 30 Davis Cup singles matches, has insisted his primary focus is on helping his team go all the way, and not his impending retirement.
“I am not here for retiring, I’m here to try and help the team,” he said last week. “Of course it’s going to be my last week on the professional tour, but at the end, we are in a team competition.”
Nadal will be on his home soil for his final tournament, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final all taking place on the indoor hard courts at the Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga. Other last-eight ties include Canada v Germany, United States v Australia, and Italy v Argentina.
The ‘King of Clay’ has previously played his part in four Davis Cup wins with his country. He was part of the teams that prevailed in 2009, 2011, 2014, and most recently in Madrid in 2019.
