The 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal will join the Laver Cup action on Thursday morning. The rest of the stellar field is already in London, and world no. 3 will make a late arrival a day before the start of the competition. Nadal has been practicing at home in Mallorca following an early US Open loss, and we should see him on the court on Friday alongside his great friend and rival Roger Federer. The Swiss will end his career in London, and Rafa will be by his side in the final chapter of his incredible tennis journey. Nadal played the Laver Cup in 2017 and 2019 in Prague and Geneva, playing six matches and winning three.
Rafael Nadal will round up Team Europe on Thursday.
Rafa’s first Laver Cup match came on an opening day in 2017 alongside Tomas Berdych. Team Europe faced Jack Sock and Nick Kyrgios in a thrilling clash and suffered a 6-3, 6-7, 10-7 loss in an hour and 48 minutes. Nick and Jack fired 12 aces and claimed eight points more than their rivals. Rafa and Tomas failed to break their opponents, but they stayed competitive after the opening set to force a match tie break. Tomas sprayed a volley error at the net in the 15th point to fall 8-7 behind and send a boost to the other side. Nick landed a service winner for 9-7 and sealed the deal with an ace down the T line for a massive celebration.
Rafa had a packed schedule on day two, prevailing over Jack Sock in singles and playing his only doubles match alongside Roger Federer later that evening. The famous duo ousted Jack Sock and Sam Querrey 6-4, 1-6, 10-5 triumph in an hour and 19 minutes on a historic night. Nadal wrapped up his first Laver Cup with a tight 7-5, 7-6 loss to inspired John Isner, who overpowered him with bold and aggressive tennis. Rafa was not physically at his best in 2019, still playing two matches on the second day. The Spaniard beat Milos Raonic 6-3, 7-6 and joined forces with Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last encounter of the session. Team Europe faced Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock, who beat them 6-4, 3-6, 10-6. Nadal and Tsitsipas claimed the second set to extend the battle before falling in the match tie break. It was Nadal’s last Laver Cup match, which should change in a couple of days.