Tennis

Rafael Nadal's illustrious tennis career is drawing to a close as he prepares for his final professional event at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. The 38-year-old Spaniard has been a beacon of resilience and determination throughout his legendary journey, overcoming injuries and setbacks with unwavering spirit.Nadal's tennis philosophy has always been centered around giving his all, regardless of the outcome. "Winning would be amazing," he once said, "but the rest—being number one, number two—it doesn't matter. I always try to play my best." This mindset has fueled his relentless pursuit of excellence, earning him 22 Grand Slam titles and countless other accolades.Beyond his on-court achievements, Nadal's mental fortitude has been equally remarkable. "I play each point like my life depends on it," he has said. "The glory is not winning here or winning there. The glory is enjoying practice, enjoying every day, enjoying working hard, trying to be a better player than before." This unwavering belief in his abilities has enabled him to overcome adversity and emerge victorious time and again.Nadal's legendary rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have pushed him to new heights. "My biggest rival is the next one," he has stated. "We have a lot of respect for each other. We've played a lot of times. I think we did important things for tennis, and we appreciate that." These rivalries have not only elevated the sport but also forged unbreakable bonds between the players.Despite his physical challenges, Nadal has never shied away from pain. "I learned during all my career to enjoy suffering," he has said. "Enduring means accepting. Accepting things as they are and not as you wish them to be. And then looking ahead. And not behind." This ability to embrace discomfort has been a cornerstone of his success, allowing him to push through adversity and achieve greatness.As Nadal prepares to bid farewell to professional tennis, his legacy will undoubtedly endure. His unwavering determination, infectious passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence have inspired countless athletes and fans alike. The Davis Cup Finals in Malaga will be a fitting stage for his final curtain call, a testament to a career that has left an indelible mark on the sport.

Tennis Channel will exclusively broadcast the Davis Cup Finals from November 19-24, featuring the final match of legendary tennis player Rafael Nadal. Nadal's Spain will face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, while the United States, led by US Open finalist Taylor Fritz, will begin its quest for a record-extending 33rd Davis Cup title against Australia.Nadal, who has announced his retirement after the Davis Cup Finals, has had an illustrious career, winning 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record 14 French Open titles. He is widely considered the greatest clay-court player of all time and has also won Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles.The Davis Cup, first contested in 1900, is one of the oldest trophies in sports. This year's finals will feature eight nations competing in a single-elimination bracket. Each round consists of two singles matches and one doubles match, with each point determining the nation that advances.Tennis Channel's on-air talent includes former Davis Cup players Paul Annacone, Sam Querrey, Mark Knowles, and Jason Goodall. The network will also air special editions of its "Tennis Channel Live" studio show following each of Spain's matches, featuring analysis from Annacone, Querrey, and award-winning anchor Steve Weissman.The American Davis Cup team, captained by Bob Bryan, includes Fritz, Rajeev Ram, Austin Krajicek, Ben Shelton, and Tommy Paul. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy and World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain are among the other elite young players who will represent their countries in the finals.Tennis Channel and its sibling network T2 are the only television-based multiplatform destinations dedicated to both professional tennis and the tennis lifestyle. The networks have the most concentrated single-sport coverage in television, with rights to all four Grand Slams, the ATP World Tour, the WTA Tour, and other major tournaments.

At 46 years old, Bob Bryan may not relish the thought of playing Rafael Nadal this week at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain. But he hopes to coach against him, a scenario that would mean the U.S. captain's team would be in the final."It's a great swan song," Bryan said. "In a packed house and maybe playing with [Carlos] Alcaraz again."Nadal and Alcaraz are expected to reunite in doubles after their first go-around in the Summer Olympics at Roland Garros. The Spaniards won two matches before falling to Team USA's Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram."They were getting better and better in Paris," Bryan recalls. "I know Nadal was trying to teach Carlitos how to really play doubles. Maybe if they got past our guys in the quarters, they might have won the gold."Nadal's accomplishments in singles are legendary, but he's also had a doubles career that all but a few players would trade theirs for. He's won 11 titles on tour, including three Masters 1000s. Nadal also teamed with Marc Lopez to win Olympic doubles gold at the 2016 Rio Games.He also has a win over the greatest doubles team ever, the Bryan Brothers. That came in Nadal's last match against Bob and Mike in the 2016 Beijing semis.But the Bryans won all six of their prior meetings with Rafa."Luckily for us, he played with all Spanish guys," Bob says. "So there were some guys that we can pick on that weren't as confident at the net."Even so, Nadal's acumen on the doubles court made up for what he may have been conceding with his choice of partner."He's really active," Bryan says of Nadal the doubles player. "He's always moving up there which makes for, you know, a good doubles partner. He's close to the net, so it's hard to find the geometry a lot of the times. It's a guy that's gonna be a tough out for you every time."Given Nadal's propensity to play with his compatriots, it's fitting that he'll likely leave the game alongside a partner clad in Spain's red and yellow. And should they see red, white and blue across the next, Bryan and the Americans won't take the 38-year-old lightly."Rafa's the ultimate competitor, doesn't matter what event it is, singles, doubles, mixed," Bryan says. "He's gonna come at you, you know, he's gonna be doing those kangaroo hops at the net. He's gonna be sprinting back to the baseline in the warm-up."Always a tough out, never easy."

Jasmine Paolini's remarkable 2024 season has been adorned with an array of accolades, including two Grand Slam runner-up finishes, an Olympic gold medal in doubles, and a Top 5 WTA ranking. However, one elusive memento remains on her wish list: a selfie with Rafael Nadal.Paolini's quest for a complete set of selfies with the Big 3 began at previous Olympics, where she captured photos with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. In Paris, she and doubles partner Sara Errani achieved their goal of winning a medal, but Paolini's attempt to secure a photo with Nadal fell short.Fate has granted Paolini a second opportunity in Malaga, where the inaugural Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup Finals are being held. Leading the Italian Billie Jean King Cup team, Paolini faces a formidable challenge in their pursuit of a fifth title. Meanwhile, Nadal will compete alongside Carlos Alcaraz and the Spanish team in his final career tournament.Against Japan in the quarterfinals, Paolini's unwavering determination propelled Italy to a 2-1 comeback victory. Her win against Moyuka Uchijima and subsequent doubles triumph with Errani sealed the tie.Paolini's relentless pursuit of her scrapbook goal was evident when she rewarded herself with a front-row seat to one of Nadal's practices on her day off. Finally, she managed to capture a precious photo, albeit from the entrance to the court where Nadal trained."Step by step, getting closer to that legendary selfie with Rafa… but not done yet!" Paolini wrote on Instagram, sharing a snapshot with Nadal visible in the background.Whether Paolini will secure her perfect shot remains to be seen. However, her next mission is to guide Italy past world No. 2 Iga Swiatek and Poland in Monday's semifinals.

Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish tennis sensation, is eagerly anticipating the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next week, where he will team up with the legendary Rafael Nadal for one final time. Nadal, who has announced his retirement from the sport, is set to hang up his racquet after the men's team event, and Alcaraz is determined to give him a fitting send-off."I think it's most important for Rafa, for his last tournament. I really want him to retire with a title," Alcaraz said after losing to Alexander Zverev in the Nitto ATP Finals. "It's going to be really, really emotional and a really special tournament for me."Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon this year, has a special bond with Nadal. The duo teamed up at the Paris Olympics, falling just short of reaching the medal rounds. Alcaraz went on to win a silver medal in singles, finishing runner-up to Novak Djokovic.Djokovic, who withdrew from the season-ending championships, is a player that Alcaraz holds in high regard. "We've seen before that it doesn't matter that he doesn't play an official match for two, three, four months because he's going to come again and be able to win the tournament, be able to show a really high level of tennis," Alcaraz said."He's going to be fresh, for sure. A lot of time with his family, kids, wife. Have time to practice a lot, which is pretty good for a tennis player coming to a tournament with motivations."Alcaraz is currently ranked No. 3 in the world and has a 5-6 record against Zverev. If Casper Ruud wins one set against Andrey Rublev, Alcaraz will have to wait another year to make a run at the coveted ATP Finals trophy."This year, as I said, I've played great tournaments and really bad tournaments. My goal at the end to be there all the time. Every tournament that I'm going to play, at least reach the semifinal, final, give myself the chance to win the tournament," Alcaraz said."So I have to work. Thank God I'm young, I'm still super young, so I hope to have many years to get there."

The Davis Cup Finals and Billie Jean King Cup Finals are set to take place in Malaga, Spain, with the United States fielding strong teams in both competitions.Bob Bryan, captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, believes his squad has a legitimate chance to win the title. With three Top 25 singles players (Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, and Ben Shelton) and the Olympic silver medalists in doubles (Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram), the Americans have a formidable lineup. However, they face a tough first-round opponent in Australia, who boasts Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin, and Matthew Ebden.Lindsay Davenport, captain of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team, is also optimistic about her team's chances. While they will be without some top players like Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, they have a solid lineup that includes Danielle Collins, Peyton Stearns, and Ashlyn Krueger. They will open their campaign against Slovakia in the round of 16.Both Bryan and Davenport acknowledge the challenges of playing in a neutral venue without the home-court advantage. However, they believe their teams have the depth and experience to overcome these obstacles.Bryan praised the current generation of American tennis players, highlighting their depth and versatility. He also expressed gratitude to the players who helped the U.S. qualify for the Finals, including Sebastian Korda, Chris Eubanks, Brandon Nakashima, Mackenzie McDonald, and Reilly Opelka.Davenport emphasized the importance of team chemistry and the contributions of all players, regardless of whether they are on the court. She also praised Stearns, a rising star who has shown great potential in her first full year on the WTA Tour.If either U.S. team can make a deep run in the Finals, it will be a testament to the strength and depth of American tennis.