Feliciano López, newly appointed director of the Davis Cup final phase, has spoken about the physical condition of Rafa Nada, who has said that he cannot imagine seeing him play this year: "From what I understand, the recovery is going to be long. I have not spoken with him but I would be surprised if at the end of this year he could already be playing. Hopefully. That would be a sign that the recovery has gone well, faster than expected. But I would say, I am sure that David, as Davis Cup captain, if he had to make a wish, it would be to have Carlitos (Alcaraz) and Rafa (Nadal). It would be the dream moment for any captain and any fan base and even more playing in Spain”.
However, Feliciano trusts Carlos Alcaraz. He considers it lucky for Spanish sport that a tennis player like the Murcian has broken in, picking up the baton from Nadal. "It's a miracle and I tell people that Carlitos is there, that another player from the same country as Rafa Nadal has emerged, at that level, is a miracle. So as captain, if you ask, it's the dream of any captain. But the most important thing is that Rafa recovers and that he can say goodbye to tennis as he would like", said the man from Toledo.
Feliciano, however, denies that Nadal has retired and is confident that he will have a farewell to tennis as he deserves: on the court, competing at a good level. “I knew that things were not going well and that the recovery was not going as they expected. What he did know is that Rafa was not going to announce his withdrawal. Many people when he called that press conference speculated on things that were not logical at any time. It was more of a press conference to report on how things were going and to announce that he was not going to Roland Garros and how he was going to try to recover so he could continue playing tennis, which is what he likes the most. In that sense I was not worried at all. Then with the issue of the operation, a little more because when you enter an operating room you don't know how you're going to get out and more with Rafa and his age, "Feliciano told EFE.
"I think that everything will go well and that Rafa will have the opportunity to say goodbye as he deserves; playing tennis on a court and playing where he wants to play and surely at a good level. There is still a lot of time, it is not something so serious and hopefully recover to play as soon as possible and say goodbye to tennis in front of those people who are so eager to see him again, even if it is for the last time”, stressed Feliciano López, who naturally contemplates the situation experienced by Alcaraz at Roland Garros.
“I wasn't that surprised. These are things that can happen. It is played with brutal intensity. The first two sets lasted two and a half hours and at that intensity and without having had that experience that Djokovic has in these types of matches are things that can happen. Carlos is still very young. He has a lot of pressure on his back. What surprised me, if anything, was that it happened to him after finishing the second set," he said.
"As soon as Carlitos plays three or four more Grand Slam semifinals, at that level, these things are not going to happen to him again. We must not forget that Djokovic had played forty-five Grand Slam semifinals counting the one the other day and for Carlitos was the second. Carlitos is physically an animal, a person who lives for and for tennis, who takes great care of himself, who has everything he needs to succeed and I would not give more importance to what happened further that it is a shame that we all had high hopes for this Roland Garros with him”, Feliciano López ventured.
A four-time Davis Cup winner with the Spanish team, Feliciano López has been appointed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) as tournament director for the 2023 final phase. López, 41, will direct the group phase that will be played from September 12 to 17 in Bologna (Italy), Manchester (United Kingdom), Valencia (Spain) and Croatia (venue to be designated), and the Final Eight in Malaga (Spain) from November 21 to 26.
"It's a great honor," said Lopez, who won the Davis Cup in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019. "My only goal will be to build on the recent success of the competition and make it the best it can be for the players and fans around the world." world. I can't wait to get started."
Also director of the Madrid tennis tournament, the player from Toledo assumes the leadership of Davis in what he has announced will be his last season as a professional. He succeeds the also Spanish David Ferrero, now captain of the Spanish team.
