FUENGIROLA, Spain: Neither Rafael Nadal nor Spanish captain David Ferrer would say Monday whether the 22-time Grand Slam champion will play singles or doubles – or even at all – at the Davis Cup Final 8, his last event before retirement.
Spain is scheduled to face the Netherlands on Tuesday in the quarterfinals on an indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena. The winner will play in the semifinals on Friday. The championship will be decided on Sunday.
Asked at a news conference how he has been feeling in practice in recent days and whether he is ready to play, Nadal said: “That’s a question for the captain.” That response drew a smile and laugh from Ferrer, sitting to Nadal’s left.
Moments later at a hotel in Fuengirola, about 12 miles south of the arena in Malaga, the question of Nadal’s participation was put to Ferrer.
“I don’t know yet,” Ferrer said. “At the moment, I have not decided the players that are going to play tomorrow.”
The 38-year-old Nadal announced last month that he would walk away from tennis after the Davis Cup at home in Spain. He has been dealing with a series of injuries the past two seasons and has been limited to fewer than 25 official matches in that span.
“I’m not here to retire. I’m here to help the team win. It’s my last week in a team competition and the most important thing is to help the team. The emotions will come later,” said Nadal, wearing the squad’s red polo shirt with a tiny red-and-yellow Spanish flag on the left sleeve.
“I’m enjoying the week. I’m not putting too much attention to the retirement,” Nadal said. “It will be a big change in my life after this week.”
Nadal said it doesn’t “make sense to keep going knowing that I don’t have the real chance to be competitive the way that I like to be competitive because my body” won’t allow it.
He hasn’t played an official match since the Paris Olympics in early August. He lost in the second round of singles to Novak Djokovic and in the quarterfinals of doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz.
“I’ve tried to prepare as hard as possible for the last month and a half. I’m trying to give my best for this event,” Nadal said. “When you don’t compete so often, it’s difficult to maintain the level consistently. But the improvement is there every day. I believe that.”
Spain’s Davis Cup team also includes Alcaraz, Marcel Granollers, Roberto Bautista Agut and Pedro Martinez.

RIYADH: Iraqi bantamweight Ali Taleb is showing no lack of confidence as he prepares to compete in the inaugural PFL MENA Championships in Riyadh later this month.

“The victory is closer to me, and I’ll surprise my opponent with a level and style he won’t expect,” said the 27-year-old, who boasts slate of 11-1.

Taleb will take on Moroccan standout Rachid El Hazoume in the league’s 135-pound finale.

His record may boast fewer fights but Taleb could have the advantage as he has competed in the PFL since 2022 and has championship experience under the UAE Warriors banner. 

Given this, Taleb believes El Hazoume will not be much of a threat. 

“I’ve already been a bantamweight champion in 2022, when I defeated Brazilian Vinicius de Oliveira,” he said.

“The fight with El Hazoume won’t be that challenging, especially since he has three losses compared to my one, and this will certainly affect his performance and motivate me to give my best and achieve victory.” 

As far as preparations go for what will be the biggest test of his career to date, Taleb says he has had superb training.

“I’m fully prepared and ready for this match. I’ve undergone an intensive and high-quality training camp under the guidance of top coaches,” he said.

The Iraqi is also counting on the fans’ support come fight night. 

“Undoubtedly, the presence of Iraqi fans … will fuel my enthusiasm and motivate me to win, fulfilling my plan and satisfying my fans who follow all my fights,” he said.

Taleb will face El Hazoume in the PFL Mena Championships on Nov 29. The event also features three more must-see title bouts. The complete fight card is:

PFL MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdelrahman Alhyasat (5-0) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (9-2)

PFL MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (7-0) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (12-6)

Amateur Women’s Atomweight Bout: Hattan Alsaif vs. Lilia Osmani

PFL MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (11-1) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (15-3)

PFL MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (6-1) vs. Georges Eid (10-4)

Showcase Fights:

Lightweight MENA Showcase: Mansour Barnaoui (21-6) vs. Alfie Davis (17-4-1)

Heavyweight MENA Showcase: Slim Trabelsi (7-0) vs. Abraham Bably (5-0)

Featherweight Global Showcase: Jesus Pinedo (23-6-1) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (19-4)

Featherweight Global Showcase: Asael Adjoudj (8-1) vs. Jose Perez (9-1)

Middleweight Global Showcase: Costello van Steenis (15-3) vs. Joao Dantas (7-1)

The PFL MENA Championships can be seen live on MBC on Friday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. AGT.

Tickets are now on sale via webook.com