Davis Cup 2024: Rafael Nadal’s Farewell, Schedule, and How to Watch

The 2024 Davis Cup Final 8 is set to be an emotional and highly anticipated event, particularly as it marks the final professional tournament for tennis legend Rafael Nadal. The competition will take place in Malaga, Spain, from November 19 to 24, at the Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena.

Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion, will be bidding farewell to professional tennis on home soil. He will be part of the Spanish team, which also includes Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers. The Spanish team is motivated to secure their first Davis Cup title since 2019, with Nadal and Alcaraz potentially reprising their successful doubles partnership.

Defending champions Italy, led by world number one Jannik Sinner, are among the favorites to retain their title. Sinner has had a remarkable year, winning the Australian and US Opens in 2024. Other strong contenders include the United States, led by Taylor Fritz, and Australia, who are seeking to end their 21-year wait for a Davis Cup victory.

The format of the Davis Cup Final 8 involves a knockout tournament starting with the quarter-finals. Each tie consists of two singles matches followed by a doubles match if necessary. The schedule includes matches on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for the quarter-finals, with the semi-finals on Friday and Saturday, and the final on Sunday, November 24.

For viewers in the United States, the Davis Cup Finals will be broadcast live on the Tennis Channel. In Canada, the event will be shown on CBC and TVA, while in Australia, it will be available on beIN Sports and Nine. Indian viewers can watch the matches live on Sony Liv and Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD TV channels.

Nadal, who is unsure of his exact role in the tournament but is committed to helping his team win, expressed his readiness to control his emotions during the competition. He emphasized that his focus is on contributing to Spain’s success rather than on his own retirement.

The Netherlands, led by Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof, will face Spain in the opening tie and are determined to cut short Nadal’s farewell celebrations. Other teams, including Germany, Canada, and Argentina, also have strong lineups and are looking to make a deep run in the tournament.