Former doubles world No 1 Rennae Stubbs has “little doubt” Rafael Nadal will take up a key place in Spanish tennis within the subsequent two to a few years.
Nadal retired from tennis after enjoying the final match of his staggering 23-year profession on the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga final week.
The previous world No 1 was overwhelmed 6-4, 6-4 by Botic van de Zandschulp within the first rubber of Spain’s shock 2-1 quarter-final loss to the Netherlands.
Forward of his last occasion, the legendary Mallorcan expressed his love for enjoying within the Davis Cup and representing his nation.
“I imply, the sensation to play in your nation, the sensation to play in your teammates, and if in case you have a great relationship with the group, one thing that occurred I feel 99% of the instances of our careers, with David [Ferrer], with Carlos earlier than, I imply Moya, and now with all this group, have been 20 years of enjoying this competitors,” the 22-time main champion mentioned.
“So I went via loads of totally different generations. The massive success in our nation is we at all times had a well-known relationship, no? And that helps to have the sensation that on the finish once you win, all people wins. Once you lose, all people loses, no?
“All people is aware of how a lot I really like my nation generally. I haven’t been in a position to transfer from the nation ever, so I take pleasure in dwelling right here. And play my final occasion in Spain, it’s one thing that I’m very proud of, no?”
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Stubbs revealed she expects Nadal to develop into Spain’s Davis Cup captain within the coming years and in addition highlighted a distinction she sees between the Spaniard and Roger Federer.
“What made me the happiest, the factor I received probably the most pleasure out of watching the doubles, as a result of the blokes misplaced 7-6, 7-6, was watching Rafa watching them,” she mentioned on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
“I’ve by no means seen a man extra pumped watching one other group try to win a match. He was up and out of the stands, he was pointing his finger.
“There is no such thing as a doubt within the subsequent two or three years he would be the captain of the Spain Davis Cup group. He was yelling at David Ferrer. He was calling him over.
“He was going up, saying stuff to him, he was yelling at [Carlos] Alcaraz, pointing his finger, saying stuff to him. It was so nice to observe. None of it was excessive, none of it was inappropriate.
“He was simply so into it. He loves tennis. I do know Roger [Federer] loves tennis, however I feel Roger beloved tennis and the entire thing about his fame and the folks and he beloved being beloved.
“Rafa simply beloved to compete. The trouble he put in within the singles match, he tried to ends of the earth in that match.”
Nadal, a five-time Davis Cup champion, retired with an unbelievable 29-2 singles document within the group competitors, whereas he was additionally a powerful 8-4 in doubles rubbers.
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