Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish tennis sensation, has expressed his excitement at the prospect of teaming up with Rafael Nadal for Spain at the Davis Cup finals in November. However, he also hopes that it won’t be a “last dance” for the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
Spain recently named both players in their five-man team for the finals in Malaga, where they will compete together in doubles as they did at the Paris Olympics. The 38-year-old Nadal’s inclusion in the team is notable given his recent injury struggles and limited competitive action since the Paris Games.
Alcaraz, who has won four Grand Slam titles, admitted that he “missed” Nadal at the recent Laver Cup, which the latter skipped due to injury. “I don’t want to think that it is a potential last dance for him in Malaga,” Alcaraz said at the China Open in Beijing.
“Obviously it is a great support having him in the team. He can bring a lot of experience. For me it’s going to be my first Davis Cup final, it’s going to be a great experience for me.”
Alcaraz emphasized the value of spending time with Nadal both on and off the court. “To have the chance to spend more time off the court, on the court as well with him, it’s going to be great for Team Spain and I think for the country as well that we’re playing in Spain. Hopefully it’s not going to be the last time for him.”
Nadal, who has not played competitively since Paris, has given mixed messages about his future in the sport. However, Alcaraz remains optimistic that the veteran will continue to play for some time.
“I think he’s still playing at a great level,” Alcaraz said. “He’s still one of the best players in the world. I think he can still win many more tournaments. I hope he can keep playing for many more years.”
The Davis Cup finals will be held in Malaga, Spain, from November 21-27. Spain will face Canada, Serbia, and South Korea in the group stage.
