Carlos Alcaraz says profitable the Davis Cup for Rafael Nadal is a “big motivation” and can mark the “most particular” match of his profession.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, will retire from tennis after representing Spain in subsequent week’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Spain face the Netherlands within the quarter-finals on Tuesday as they appear so as to add to their six titles – 4 of which Nadal has performed a component in.
“It is most likely essentially the most particular match I will play in my profession, due to what’s occurring, due to the circumstances,” mentioned 21-year-old Alcaraz, who’s ranked third on this planet.
“The Davis Cup has at all times been a match that I would like to win in the future. I am enthusiastic about representing Spain.
“Having Rafa by my facet, understanding it is his final match, will make it rather more particular.”
Alcaraz made his Davis Cup debut in 2022, three years after Spain’s most up-to-date title.
He and Nadal, 17 years his senior, teamed up within the doubles at this summer time’s Olympics in Paris, although have been knocked out within the quarter-finals.
Nadal will retire because the second-most profitable males’s singles participant of all time, behind solely long-time rival Novak Djokovic.
“No participant deserves extra to complete the unimaginable profession he had with a title, and I understand how particular the Davis Cup is for him. It is going to be a troublesome problem however profitable it for Rafa is a big motivation,” Alcaraz advised the ATP web site.
He added: “Rafa’s farewell is rather more necessary, at the least for me. The Davis Cup is yearly. Rafa’s farewell, saying goodbye to a legend of the game, sadly solely occurs as soon as. Personally Iām very excited to be by Rafa’s facet for his farewell.”
