“Did you come for the game Nadal?». This is the first question we ask ourselves when we put both feet in Malaga. No trace of the Davis Cup in the conversations, a single name covers everything. Rafa Nadal. The Spaniard will play against Botic van de Zandschulp in what could be his last match. “It’s impossible to find tickets, I’ve tried everything,” says Roberto, a longtime taxi driver in Malaga.
The aroma of tennis intensifies when you arrive at Martín Carpena, the city’s lungs this week. The eight best racquet nations will perform on its fast court. At least that is how we understand his presence in Malaga. The city breathes tennis from all sides. Fans flock to the ramps looking for an autograph to immortalize their feelings.
They will increase exponentially when the ball rolls; before, tennis was played outside, in the surroundings. Over there, fans enjoy activities that test their tennis skills. Young and old come together to take part in a game of tennis, test the power of the serve and try to slip the ball into a hole to receive the reward.
OKDIARIO witnessed the party directly from the tennis evening. You can’t stop hearing the “come on Rafa», which has accompanied the Balearic tennis player so much throughout his career. It could be the last, even if everyone dreams that it is the penultimate of a collective tournament which, on this occasion, will forever be associated with the individual farewell of Rafael Nadal.
Its silhouette transcends sport and borders. This Tuesday he reaches the Netherlands, the country of his rivals. From there comes, from the center of the country of tulips, a wave of fans who support Nadal. They carry it in their hearts and tattooed on their skin.
Eternal Nadal
“Rafa’s farewell is much more important. There is a Davis Cup every year, but a legend like him unfortunately only retires once. So this is probably the most special tournament I will play in my career,” admitted Alcaraz. “I would love to win the Davis one day. The excitement of representing Spain is huge, and having Rafa by my side, knowing that it is his last tournament, will make it even more special”, admitted the Murcian, who will be the number one of the Spanish Navy in the second individual. playoff game.
Nadal left good feelings in his final training session before the first Davis Cup match. He passed the final test with Alcaraz with flying colors. Practice has clarified two ideas. The first is that Alcaraz is better than in Turin, where he competed with a nasal bandage to combat the cold he suffered from. In Malaga there is no trace of the first and a substitute of the viral process.
The second thesis is that Nadal is ready for the tournament. Rafa showed himself in an ascending line with the racket in hand. Solid on serve and firm in exchanges, even if he still lacks a certain reaction on the rest. Product of lack of rhythm after not having played a single match since his elimination at the Paris Olympic Games.
