Alex de Minaur details 'special' hang out with Rafa Nadal as tennis icon calls it a day

Alex de Minaur revealed he had one last meet-up with Nadal before the tennis icon retired

Alex de Minaur has revealed he enjoyed a ‘special’ meet-up with Rafael Nadal before the Spaniard hung up his racket for the final time. Both De Minaur and Nadal were in Malaga for the 2024 edition of the Davis Cup. However, for Nadal, who had announced before the tournament it would be his final-ever event as a professional tennis player, there was no fairytale ending. Nadal’s Spanish side, which included four-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz, were dumped out in the quarter-final stage by the Netherlands on Tuesday.

It sparked emotional scenes at the Martin Carpena Arena, with Nadal waving goodbye to tennis, at least as a player, for the final time. Among those leading the tributes was the current world No.9 De Minaur, who revelled in having had the chance to train with Nadal at the Davis Cup before the legendary tennis ace was knocked out. Speaking in southern Spain, De Minaur stated: "Training with Rafa in Malaga was a special moment.

It was an emotional evening as Nadal said farewell to tennis

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“I have been fortunate enough to share the court with him a couple of times. However, at his retirement tournament, it's even more special. It felt nice to get one last hit with Rafa.” De Minaur hadn’t even planned to feature for the Aussies in Malaga, but the 25-year-old made a last-minute decision to join the team - a move which appears to have proven worthwhile now. He will be among the tennis stars on the ATP Tour looking to take advantage of Nadal’s retirement by challenging the likes of Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and world No.1 Jannik Sinner for Grand Slam titles.

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