After 23 years, Rafael Nadal’s final curtain call will occur in Malaga at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals. A longtime loyal competitor for Spain, it will be a fitting way for Nadal to end his illustrious career on home turf with the overwhelming support of a sellout Spanish crowd in attendance.
Now the question remains…where (if at all) will he play in the lineup?
With Carlos Alcaraz being a lock in singles and other Spanish players like Roberto Bautista Agut and Pedro Martinez rounding into solid singles form lately, all signs point to doubles. The Spanish roster also features top ATP doubles player, Marcel Granollers, who would likely be Nadal’s doubles partner if he gets tapped for the lineup. Needless to say, Captain David Ferrer will have some tough decisions to make.
By retiring after Davis Cup, Nadal follows a similar retirement blueprint to Roger Federer and Andy Murray, who both chose team competitions at Laver Cup and the Olympics to cap off their pro careers. With Nadal expected to take the doubles court in his last career tournament, here’s a doubles deep dive to brush up on his career doubles accomplishments.
Related Article
Andy Murray Doubles Spotlight: 7 things you didn’t know (or forgot) about Andy Murray’s doubles career.
1. Most Accomplished Big 4 Doubles Player
When assessing doubles records among The Big 3, Big 4, or even Big 5, Nadal’s doubles pedigree stands head and shoulders above his top career rivals. As a lefty, he naturally complements right-handed doubles partners with the ability to keep both forehands in the middle of the court and jam his opponent when serving into the ad court with the tricky lefty spin serve.
This, combined with his touch, movement, and innate competitive spirit, has made Nadal a formidable doubles opponent despite his sporadic play.
- Rafael Nadal: 142-77 (64%), 11 titles, Olympic doubles gold medal (2016)
- Roger Federer: 131-22 (58%), 8 titles, Olympic doubles gold medal (2008)
- Andy Murray: 83-86 (49%) and 3 titles
- Stan Wawrinka: 81-102 (44%), 3 titles, Olympic doubles gold medal (2008)
- Novak Djokovic: 64-80 (44%) and 1 title
Related Article
Novak Djokovic Doubles Spotlight: 7 things you didn’t know (or forgot) about Novak Djokovic’s doubles career.
2. Eleven ATP Titles with 6 Different Partners
Nadal’s doubles success was far from a flash in the pan. Throughout his career, he won 11 doubles titles with six different partners over 14 years from 2003 to 2016. Between 2003-2012, Nadal won at least one doubles title per year in eight of ten consecutive seasons.
He also posted an impressive 11-4 (73%) winning record in finals over 15 appearances. Nadal’s most notable doubles successes on the ATP level included three ATP Masters 1000 titles: two at Indian Wells with Marc Lopez (2010, 2012) and one in Monte Carlo with Tommy Robredo (2008).
3. Olympic Gold Medalist in Doubles
Nadal achieved his greatest career doubles result alongside good friend, fellow Spaniard and now assistant coach, Marc Lopez. The Spanish team went 6-0 at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games to capture the gold medal in an emotional three-set final over the Romanian team of Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
Earlier this summer, Nadal came close to capturing a second Olympic doubles medal with Carlos Alcaraz when they captivated fans on an emphatic run to the quarterfinals. Along the way, “Nadal-Caraz” knocked out No. 6 seeds Maximo Gonzalez/Andres Molteni of Argentina and the Dutch team of Tallon Griekspoor/Wesley Koolhof before falling to the experienced American team of Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek in straight sets.
Medal aside, Nadal-Caraz’s exciting run helped raise the profile of Olympic doubles and created a symbolic passing of the torch moment from one Spanish generational talent to the next in Nadal’s final Olympic games.
Related Podcast
Bob Bryan Interview: Team USA Olympics Coach and Davis Cup Captain talks about the experience coaching Rajeev Ram/Austin Krajicek to defeat Nadal and Alcaraz at the Paris Olympics.
4. Limited Grand Slam Doubles Play
Perhaps one of many reasons that Nadal racked up 22 grand slam titles in singles was that he rarely focused his energy elsewhere at the slams. Nadal only played in doubles grand slam events during a limited two-year stretch early in his career between 2004-2005.
His best doubles major result came at the 2004 U.S. Open, where he and Tommy Robredo advanced to the semi-finals before falling to Leander Paes/David Riki 6-3, 6-3. Ironically, he never once played doubles at Roland Garros, where he won 14 singles major titles.
5. Nadal’s Spanish Doubles Armada
Nadal was fiercely loyal to his Spanish compatriots when choosing doubles partners over the years. Over a 20-year stretch, he partnered with Spanish players across multiple generations ranging from now 53-year-old Alex Lopez Moron to 33-year-old Pablo Carreno Busta.
Nadal won 10 of his 11 career doubles titles with Spanish partners. The only outlier? Juan Monaco of Argentina.
To no surprise, Nadal’s most successful partnership came alongside Marc Lopez. Together, they won five career titles including an Olympic gold medal, two titles at Indian Wells (2010 and 2012) and two titles at the Qatar Open. Nadal also scored tournament victories with four additional Spanish players including Tommy Robredo, Albert Costa, Pablo Carreno Busta and Alex Lopez Moron.
6. Laver Cup Legacy with Federer
Fedal fans…grab your tissues. Many of Nadal’s most memorable career doubles moments came at Laver Cup over the last several years. In 2017, he and Federer teamed up for the first time in their careers to defeat Jack Sock and Sam Querrey of Team World in a tight three-set contest.
In 2022, he made an intentional effort to play again for Team Europe and helped send off Roger Federer’s career in style. It was an emotional end to Federer’s career as he and Nadal shared the court together during his last professional career match.
Ultimately, they came up short against Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock, but they won the hearts of tennis fans around the world when they shared a sentimental moment after the match that brought the tennis world, and Federer and Nadal themselves, to tears.
Related Article
Roger Federer Doubles Spotlight: 7 things you didn’t know (or forgot) about Roger Federer’s doubles career.
7. Four-Time Davis Cup Champion…For Now
At Davis Cup, Nadal has been part of four championship teams for Spain in 2004, 2009, 2011, and 2019. During a 16-year stretch, he amassed an 8-4 doubles record and has won his last six consecutive doubles matches playing alongside Feliciano Lopez, Marcel Granollers, Fernando Verdasco, and Marc Lopez.
Could a 5th Davis Cup title be on the horizon in Malaga? It would be an epic way for Nadal to close the chapter on his 23-year legendary career.
Leave a Reply