Rafael Nadal named in Spain’s Davis Cup finals squad to play in Malaga as the tennis legend prepares for what could be his farewell event

Rafael Nadal has been included in Spain’s squad for the Davis Cup finals in Malaga, which could be his farewell event.

Nadal – who has won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including 14 at the French Open – has previously suggested the current season would be his last.

The 38-year-old has not played since the Paris Olympics, where he reached the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz, and subsequently withdrew from the US Open and then also last week’s Laver Cup in Berlin.

World number three Alcaraz is also in the Spain team named by captain David Ferrer, alongside Roberto Bautista, Pablo Carreno and Marcel Granollers.

‘He (Nadal) told me about his desire to be in Malaga if we qualify,’ Ferrer said at the Spanish team press conference on Monday.

Nadal could make his farewell departure from tennis after hinting this would be his last season

Spanish Davis Cup head coach David Ferrer (pictured) revealed Nadal wanted to be included

‘Everything was very easy because it was he who from the beginning wanted to be in the finals.

‘There are still two months left and all the players who are on the list have to compete and see how they are, but the good thing is that there are many possibilities to combine doubles depending on physical exhaustion or how the tie is going.’

The Davis Cup finals will run from November 19 to 24, with Spain – looking to win the event for the first time since 2019 – set to face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals having progressed through the group stage.

Defending champions Italy, led by world number one Jannik Sinner, take on Argentina, while the United States face Australia and Germany will meet Canada.