Self-demand in high-performance athletes is not new, especially if for more than two decades the protagonist marked an era in that discipline. Rafael Nadal is no exception to that premise and made it clear this Tuesday, after the press conference that followed the defeat against From the Zandschulpfor the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup between Spain y Netherlandswhich marked his retirement from activity. “I think I would put another player if I were captain”acknowledged a mature Rafa before the journalists accredited in the José María Martín Carpena Sports Palace in Málaga.
It is that the winner of 92 titles throughout his career, including 22 Grand Slamswas widely surpassed by his rival in one hour and 52 minutes of play, with a doble 6-4. The Andalusian stadium, with capacity for 11.300 personasvibrated every time the Mallorcan managed to impose his rhythm, although at no time were there clear chances of reversing the score. Everyone clung to an illusion that was not going to happen and the first to know was the player himself..
“In the end I think that, as I said before, because something we have a captain who makes decisionsI simply continue to be a player even if I have little left, maybe I only have a few hours left -then, Carlos Alcaraz played the duel that ended up winning against Tallon Greek track-, I hope not, but in the end don’t put the pressure on me to be nothing more than a player, I’m not a captain, this is the reality,” was the beginning of Nadal’s response when asked about whether would have been chosen for the series.
And he added in that sense: “The captain makes the decisions he believes are best for the teamI said that if I didn’t see myself prepared to win the game I would rule myself out, the problem is that that hasn’t been the case. I think I trained well enough to try to win the match. But later in competition I have not been able to perform as well as I would have liked. The preparation had not been bad in that sense and with that attitude decisions are made.”
The brutal honesty of the 14-time champion of Roland Garros would arrive at the end of the replica. “I think that after the game the logical thing is that I hope there is another opportunity and that we pass today. Although the situation, and more so on this track which is very fast, is at its limit. After going 1-0, I hope there is another opportunity, but hey, I think I would put another player if I were captain. But I repeat that it is not up to me“I don’t have that decision-making power today.”
In the last turn, Marcel Granollers and Carlos Alcaraz could not beat Wesley Koolhof y From the Zandschulp. Consequently, Rafa’s adventure in tennis ended in Malaga with a defeat that will not stain an inspiring legacy.
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