Rafael Nadal, the legendary Spanish tennis player, is set to make his fourth appearance at the Laver Cup, a prestigious team competition between Team Europe and Team World. The announcement was made on Monday, with Nadal being one of three captain’s picks by Bjorn Borg, the captain of Team Europe.
Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, has indicated that this is likely to be his final season on the ATP Tour. He has been struggling with a left hip injury and underwent surgery in 2023, which sidelined him for 11 months. Nadal made his return to action last week in Barcelona, where he won his opening match before losing in the second round.
Despite his recent injury struggles, Nadal remains one of the most respected and successful players in tennis history. He has been a key member of Team Europe in the Laver Cup, helping them to victory in 2017 and 2019.
Nadal’s inclusion in the Team Europe lineup for the 2023 Laver Cup is a major boost for the team. He will join fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, and reigning Olympic champion Alexander Zverev.
Team World, captained by John McEnroe, has also announced its first set of players, including Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, and Tommy Paul. McEnroe is aiming to lead Team World to a third consecutive victory after losing the first four editions of the Laver Cup.
The Laver Cup will be held in Berlin from September 20-22. It will be the last time that Borg and McEnroe serve as captains of their respective teams.
