Tennis is on the verge of a new era, and saying goodbye to a legend like Rafael Nadal is no small feat. The 38-year-old Spanish icon, who’s graced courts with grit and grace for nearly two decades, announced in a heartfelt video statement that he’ll officially retire after the Davis Cup Finals. It’s hard to imagine the sport without him, and fans around the world are already gearing up to honor his legacy in a big way. But here’s the exciting part: tournament director—and close friend—Feliciano Lopez hinted that there’s something special in the works to celebrate Nadal’s incredible career. 

The Spanish sensation was confirmed in the Davis Cup last month which led to a lot of excitement for the fans. To add to the uniqueness of the event, it would be played in Nadal’s home country, Spain. With such circumstances in hand, Lopez shared that it would not be appropriate enough to bid farewell to the player without a grand celebration. 

Speaking to journalists via video conferencing, Lopez revealed that the planning for the tournament is confidential. However,  he gave certain hints about what can be expected from the Davis Cup finals. “Of course, it’s confidential, but we are planning something very special for him; we must celebrate his career and legacy. We are preparing many things, but for now, we can’t provide many details, except that it will be something very special,” Lopez said. Besides being his final tournament, the Davis Cup is special for Rafa for other reasons as well. 

Detailing the same in the video in which he announced his retirement, Nadal said, “I think I’ve come full circle since one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Sevilla in 2004.” And with Spain once again close to the title victory, the ‘King of Clay’ would attempt to make his country win the title that has stayed away from Spain since 2019. Hence, Lopez remarked that the Davis Cup is “fortunate” to host the last tournament that Nadal would participate in. “We will try to live up to his legacy and enormous career, and I hope we can do something very special for him,” he concluded. 

Lopez further highlighted that a huge number of guests are expected at the venue including the likes of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. But while the tournament organizers are aiming for a grand celebration for Nadal, there are also some concerns looming large ahead of the event. 

Rafael Nadal’s last tournament faces major concern, reveals Feliciano Lopez

Rafael Nadal has not just amassed immense accolades and achievements under his belt but has also garnered a huge fanbase over the years. While this is nothing short of a dream for any athlete, it seems to be becoming concerning for the tournament organizers at the Davis Cup finals. 

Speaking about the concerns, Lopez highlighted that seating capacity might become a huge problem. “I know almost everyone wants to be present at his farewell… Novak Djokovic posted on Instagram that he wishes to attend, as well as Andy Murray,” Lopez shared. He further added, “I don’t know if there will be enough spots for everyone, but as you can imagine, all the tennis players who have played in his era want to be there.”

But Lopez shared that despite all the challenges that may erupt, the final tournament of Nadal’s career will not take a backseat in providing him the best farewell possible. What can be the surprises that Lopez talked about? Well, only time will tell.