Rafael Nadal will make a return to the Laver Cup this year after last playing in 2022 alongside Roger Federer in his retirement match.
While many assume that this may be Nadal’s final year on the ATP Tour, he is not only focusing on clay-court tournaments or those offering ranking points. He will also compete in the popular exhibition to be held from September 20th to 22nd in Berlin, Germany.
The last time Nadal played in the Laver Cup was in 2022 when Federer retired from tennis at the event. The Spaniard shared the court with him in the final match, a doubles match against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe, resulting in a loss for Federer.
This year, it is expected that Nadal may only play one singles match or a couple of doubles matches to preserve his body. Despite this, his presence at the event will draw attention, particularly with Team Europe, led by Carlos Alcaraz, fielding a strong team.
Nadal’s announcement was accompanied by a statement expressing his excitement about playing at the Laver Cup again and reminiscing about his experiences in previous editions of the tournament.
Team captain Bjorn Borg was also thrilled to have the 22-time major winner as part of the team, aiming to avenge a loss to Team World from the previous year. He praised Nadal as one of the greatest competitors in the sport and highlighted the strong lineup for Team Europe.
