Rafa Nadal expressed his ambition on Monday to play in the Davis Cup finals, stating that he did not travel to Malaga with the Spanish team to retire, but rather to help the team win the coveted trophy. Although his participation has yet to be confirmed, with the final decision to be made by captain David Ferrer, Nadal emphasized that his focus remains on contributing to the team's success.

“I’m not here to retire, I’m here to help the team win. In the last two and a half months, I’ve tried to work as hard as possible,” said the Mallorcan in a press conference after having trained intensively since last Friday to be ready for Spain’s matches.

He acknowledged that it is "difficult to regain consistency and match fitness" after competing so little this year. "I don’t know how I will respond if I play a match, since I’ve been playing very little on the circuit. I’m preparing as best as I can, to be as ready as possible," he added. Nadal made it clear that everything else is speculation, which he prefers not to indulge in, and if he does play on Tuesday, he will do so “with maximum enthusiasm and determination.”

Nadal also discussed the pressure on captain Ferrer when it comes to selecting the team. "It will be difficult for the captain to choose," he said, referring to Ferrer, who was present during the conference. The captain refrained from revealing the lineup, stating it would be decided the following day, just before Spain's opening match against the Netherlands.

No Ideal Farewell

During the press conference, which was attended by over 100 journalists from around the world, Nadal reflected on the end of an era. “It’s the end of a chapter, it’s been many years shared. I’ve been in the circuit for a long time, and I understand that many people grew up watching me play,” he stated. However, he remained at peace with the reality of the situation: “It’s part of life, and now it’s my turn.”

For Nadal, the idea of a "perfect farewell" doesn’t concern him. "There’s no ideal farewell, and it doesn’t worry me. My farewell will be what it is. It would be fantastic if we are all competitive and trying to win the Davis Cup. I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest, whether from the sidelines or on the court helping the team," he concluded.

Nadal downplayed the media attention surrounding his departure. “The farewell doesn’t need to be of great importance. It’s going to happen, and there’s no need to compare it to anything else. We shouldn’t let it distract us. The most important thing in our minds is the Davis Cup."

He also made it clear that he is not worried about the next chapter of his life. "What I’ll miss most? The feeling of competing, being on the court, and feeling the atmosphere of the fans," he admitted.

Despite the emotions that come with these moments, Nadal explained that he is handling it "normally" and not "with a rollercoaster of emotions," as he had already accepted the reality. "I’m a sensitive person, but I try to put things in perspective during both the bad and good moments," he noted.

On his decision to retire, he revealed, “I haven’t finished tennis feeling burnt out like others have. If I could, I would keep playing, but I can’t play at a level that would be fulfilling for me personally."

"I had made the decision to retire some time ago, but I wanted to give myself the chance to make sure that what I’m doing is what I want to do. I didn’t want to have any doubts about what could have been. I wanted the peace of mind that I’m leaving after giving my all,” Nadal stressed.

The "Fortune" of His Teammates

Nadal’s teammates also expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to share these last moments with him on the court. Captain Ferrer described it as "a privilege for all," reflecting on their years of friendship and battles together.

Carlos Alcaraz expressed his "fortune" to have experienced moments with Nadal both on and off the court, though he would have loved to share many more. He added that learning from Nadal is a privilege. Roberto Bautista also shared his admiration, saying that Nadal has been "an example for everyone," and he has learned a lot from him.

Pedro Martínez Portela mentioned that although he had not been close to Nadal before, the 22-time Grand Slam winner has always been an idol and a reference for him. Meanwhile, Marcel Granollers called it "super special" because Nadal was his first national teammate, with whom he shared key moments at ages 14 and 16.

Nadal’s retirement may be near, but his legacy continues to inspire both his teammates and fans alike.