Nadal ready for Davis duty

Rafael Nadal is ready to end his long competitive pause, with the iconic Spaniard reportedly ready for duty at next month’s Davis Cup final.

The event will be played on home ground in Malaga, with the 37-year-old apparently planning to use a controversial Saudi exhibition next week as a test bed.

Nadal, ranked 158, has not played since losing in the Paris Olympics second round to Novak Djokovic three months ago.

But Spanish captain David Ferrer, a close confidant of the veteran, says his mate has put his hand up for Davis singles duty.

But the skipper is hoping that Nadal will enter at least one ATP event over the coming weeks to put further polish on his mothballed game.

“This month, he will compete in the Six Kings Slam, and I would like him to participate in another event before joining the team. I will discuss this with him in the coming weeks,” the former player said.

But there would appear to be nothing stopping Nadal from trying to help his nation to another Davis title, with Spain drawn to play the Netherlands in the opening group encounter.

Spain will take on the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-finals with Nadal likely to play Botic van de Zandschulp, who beat Alcaraz at the US Open, if he decides to play singles.

When continuing, Ferrer confirmed that Nadal is intending to play the No.2 Dutchman next month,

“When the draw was announced, I sent him a message and told him to prepare to play against Botic Van de Zandschulp. His response was clear: ‘I’ll be ready’,” Ferrer added.

The former world No. 3 added:  “I know Rafa is an honest person and that if he steps on the court, he will give his 100 percent.
“The issue he is facing is that physically he can’t sustain the level for long periods, but in a single match, he can be unbeatable.

 “You can never count out a player like him. The fact that he is so thrilled to be with the team, as he was the one who called me before the qualifying phase, makes me see that it’s perfect to have him with us.”

Nadal will be in the team mix along with Carlos Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta among others.