Alex de Minaur has revealed he enjoyed a ‘special’ meet-up with Rafael Nadal before the Spaniard hung up his racket for the final time.
Both De Minaur and Nadal were in Malaga for the 2024 edition of the Davis Cup.
However, for Nadal, who had announced before the tournament it would be his final-ever event as a professional tennis player, there was no fairytale ending.
Nadal’s Spanish side, which included four-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz, were dumped out in the quarter-final stage by the Netherlands on Tuesday.
It sparked emotional scenes at the Martin Carpena Arena, with Nadal waving goodbye to tennis, at least as a player, for the final time.
Among those leading the tributes was the current world No.9 De Minaur, who revelled in having had the chance to train with Nadal at the Davis Cup before the legendary tennis ace was knocked out.
Speaking in southern Spain, De Minaur stated: « Training with Rafa in Malaga was a special moment.
“I have been fortunate enough to share the court with him a couple of times. However, at his retirement tournament, it’s even more special. It felt nice to get one last hit with Rafa.”
De Minaur hadn’t even planned to feature for the Aussies in Malaga, but the 25-year-old made a last-minute decision to join the team – a move which appears to have proven worthwhile now.
He will be among the tennis stars on the ATP Tour looking to take advantage of Nadal’s retirement by challenging the likes of Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and world No.1 Jannik Sinner for Grand Slam titles.
But for Nadal, he bowed out with his head held high, telling the crowd: « It has been 20 years of a professional career in which you have carried me through the good times, and in the bad you pushed me to keep playing.
« I want to congratulate the Netherlands and thank the whole Spanish team that is here, who have let me play the Davis Cup again, which has not gone as we all wanted. I have given everything I had.
« The truth is that you never want to get to this point. I’m not tired of playing tennis but my body doesn’t want to play anymore and you have to accept that. I feel super privileged, I’ve been able to make my hobby my profession for a long time. »
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