Rafael Nadal farewell live: updates from the 2024 Davis Cup finals ...

10 hours ago

Eurosport.com

Updated 19/11/2024 at 15:35 GMT

An emotional national anthem has just taken place inside the arena with chants of 'Rafa, Rafa, Rafa.'

Photo Eurosport.com

The great Spaniard looks visibly moved by it all.

Nadal is going through those famous, intense pre-match warm-ups.

The sprint up the corridor so often unnerves an opponent.

How is Botic feeling right now?

BJK CUP LATEST - GB FORCED INTO DECISIVE DOUBLES

Great Britain's hopes of reaching the final of the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup have been hit after Katie Boulter lost her singles 6-2 4-6 4-6 to Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova.

Earlier, Emma Raducanu put GB 1-0 up in the tie thanks to a 6-4 6-4 victory over Viktoria Hruncakova.

It will be down to Heather Watson/Olivia Nicholls versus Viktoria Hruncakova/Tereza Mihalikova to decider who will face Italy in the final on Wednesday.

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GEAR TO MARK THE OCCASION

Nadal's long association with Babolat has seen the company mark his Davis Cup farewell with a special design for his equipment. A nice touch.

RAFAEL NADAL TO PLAY FIRST SINGLES RUBBER WITH HOLLAND'S BOTIC VAN DE ZANDSCHULP

CARLOS ALCARAZ FEATURES IN SECOND SINGLES OF THE DAY AGAINST DUTCH ACE TALLON GRIEKSPOOR

This will be third and final time Nadal will face Botic.

The Spaniard leads their match-up 2-0 having beaten the Dutchman on two occasions in 2022.

The King of Clay won 6-3 6-2 6-4 on his way to another French Open title before sending Botic packing with a 6-4 6-2 7-6 success at Wimbledon.

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15:20

THROWBACK TO 2019 WHEN NADAL LED SPAIN TO DAVIS CUP GLORY

15:17

CONFIRMED: RAFAEL NADAL WILL PLAY SINGLES THIS EVENING

The 22-time major winner will lock horns with Botic van de Zandschulp in the first singles rubber of the tie.

That match is due to commence at 1600 GMT.

15:15

CAN THE DUTCH SEND RAFA IN PREMATURE RETIREMENT WITH SHOCK WIN TODAY?

"It's amazing that it might be the last match that Nadal plays. And we hope to give him a nice adios," said Netherlands captain Paul Haarhuis ahead of today's last-eight clash.

Davis Cup - Figure 4 — Photo Eurosport.com

"It's Davis Cup. Anything can happen. We have been here now for three years in a row. This is the fourth year in five years. We want more than being in the quarter-finals. So, we're going to have to play well, and that's what we focus on."

Nadal trains with Alcaraz as he steps up preparations for final appearance

15:10

A WONDERFUL, HEART-FELT MESSAGE FROM NADAL'S GREATEST RIVAL, ROGER FEDERER

The Swiss Maestro took to social media earlier today to wax lyrical about the rival who he has developed a close bond with over the years.

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15:05

NADAL FOCUSED ON THE TEAM - BUT THE WORLD OF SPORT CONTINUES TO PAY TRIBUTE

The 22-time major winner announced last month that he would retire after the Davis Cup Finals, but rather than focusing on the end of his career, he insisted that his focus was on helping the team win.

"If I"m on the court, I hope to control my emotions. I"m not here to retire," Nadal said.

"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 at the end. Before and after, I will be focused on what I have to do. I feel good, I"ve been thinking about it for quite some time. I"ve been trying to give myself a chance and I decided over time."