Rafael Nadal has explained the reasons behind his decision to retire as he prepares for his farewell appearance in professional tennis, for Spain at the Davis Cup. Nadal said he asked himself when would be the right time to stop playing, thinking: ‘OK, I can hold [on] for one more year. But why? To say goodbye in every tournament. I don’t have that ego to need that’.
The 22-time grand slam champion will play his final tournament, in his homeland, before calling time on an illustrious career. The 38-year-old announced his decision to retire in October and in Málaga this week is part of a Spain team that includes Carlos Alcaraz. Spain will take on the Netherlands in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.