Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal is gearing up for his final match at the Davis Cup Finals in 2024. After winning 22 Grand Slam titles, Nadal, who has faced injuries lately, will partner with Carlos Alcaraz for Spain in the doubles matches. The Davis Cup Finals will happen from November 19th to 24th in Malaga, Spain, marking Nadal’s heartfelt farewell. The exact date of his last match isn’t clear because of the event’s team format, but it’s likely to be in the later stages of the tournament. Let’s take a look at the time he played against Indian players.
Nadal at the Chennai Open
Rafael Nadal started his connection with Indian tennis fans at the Chennai Open, which he played three times.
- 2004: Nadal first appeared in the Chennai Open as a young player trying to make a mark. Although he lost in the first round, his potential was evident. He didn’t face any Indian players.
- 2007: Returning with more experience, Nadal reached the semi-finals. In an exciting match, he played against India’s Karan Rastogi in the second round and won easily with scores of 6-4, 6-1, thrilling the audience.
- 2008: This year marked Nadal’s last appearance at the Chennai Open. He reached the finals but lost to Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets, 6–0, 6–1, without playing any Indian opponents.
Indian Wells Masters 2011
In March 2011, at the Indian Wells Masters, Nadal faced India’s Somdev Devvarman in the round of 16, winning the match in straight sets (7-5, 6-4). Nadal finished as the runner-up in the tournament, with Novak Djokovic taking the title.
2016 Davis Cup in New Delhi
Nadal’s memorable visit to India was during the 2016 Davis Cup in New Delhi. Although he had injury worries, he travelled to play for Spain. While he didn’t compete in singles, he played doubles with Marc Lopez. They had a thrilling match against India’s Leander Paes and Saketh Myneni. After losing the first set, Nadal and Lopez won the next three sets, clinching the match 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4.
Nadal’s participation in Tennis League for India
Rafael Nadal joined the Indian Aces for the 2015 season of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), which had teams from all over Asia. In this league, he teamed up with Indian tennis stars like Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza. He played in Delhi and helped the Aces reach the finals. However, the Indian Aces lost to the Singapore Slammers in the final, a match Nadal did not play.
