Rafael Nadal has been forced to miss the Laver Cup 2024 due to continued illness. After missing the tournament hosted by Roger Federer, the Mallorcan has set a date for his return to the court.
Nadal will compete in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in November as part of Spain’s team alongside world number three Carlos Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreno Busta and Marcel Granollers. Rafa will be returning to the tournament after winning it in 2019.
Asked about Nadal’s call-up, Spain captain David Ferrer said: “I spoke to Rafa before the tournament started in Valencia and before the qualifiers. He shared his idea and his hope that if he qualified he would have a chance to play.”
“We spoke again the day or two after we qualified. His plan was to get ready and excited to play in Malaga. It was very simple. He said from the very beginning that he wanted to take part in the final,” Ferrer explained at the team’s press conference in Madrid.
It remains to be seen whether the recent months of rest will pay off for Nadal. The former world number one hasn’t played since the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where he lost in singles to Novak Djokovic and in doubles with Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal (R) and Carlos Alcaraz face off against America’s Austin Krajicek and America’s Rajeev Ram during the men’s doubles quarterfinals during the fifth day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Roland Garros on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France.
Nadal to make cameo appearance at Federer’s 2024 Laver Cup
Laver Cup co-owner and host Roger Federer had been expecting Nadal to attend the tournament, and despite his sudden withdrawal, the Spaniard took the opportunity to socialise with his friend.
reference
Roger Federer gave Rafael Nadal some very important advice
During a Laver Cup interview, Nadal appeared on video and asked Federer, “Who is your favorite doubles partner?” The tennis legend swayed and replied, “No, I thought it was my wife until this guy came along, so I’m OK with Rafa having her.”
Nadal’s injury problems this year
Even before it was announced that Nadal would join Spain’s Davis Cup team, there were rumors circulating about his future, and it was easy to see why: the 22-time Grand Slam champion had been plagued by physical problems throughout the year.
Rafa missed the Australian Open in January with an injury and also decided not to play Wimbledon to focus on the Olympics. After Paris 2024, he withdrew from the US Open, saying he was “not 100% at the moment”. He then withdrew from the Laver Cup in early September, saying he believed “there are other players who can help the team win”.
Pending news on Nadal’s final decision, the Davis Cup quarter-finals will be played from November 19-21, followed by the semi-finals over two days and the final on Sunday, November 24.
