‘Gracias, Rafa’: Rafael Nadal will head into retirement after Spain hosts the Davis Cup

‘Gracias, Rafa’: Rafael Nadal will head into retirement after Spain hosts the Davis Cup
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and Rafael Nadal during a practice session for the Davis Cup Finals at Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain, on Sunday. (Reuters)
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Updated 18 November 2024
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‘Gracias, Rafa’: Rafael Nadal will head into retirement after Spain hosts the Davis Cup

‘Gracias, Rafa’: Rafael Nadal will head into retirement after Spain hosts the Davis Cup
  • When Nadal explained last month that the Davis Cup would be it for him, he spoke in happy terms about his more than two decades in the sport
  • He becomes the second member of the so-called Big Three of men’s tennis to retire

MALAGA, Spain: Rafael Nadal’s impending retirement will loom over the Davis Cup Final 8 from the moment it begins Tuesday in southern Spain.

If that weren’t already obvious, just glance at the banner measuring 28,000 square feet (2,600 square meters) — about half the size of a football field — that wraps around the soccer stadium across the street from the arena hosting the tennis. The blue sign, visible from the highway leaving Malaga’s airport, is marked with large white letters that read, “GRACIAS, RAFA.” Between those two words is an image of Nadal toting a tennis racket in his left hand while wearing one of his trademark sleeveless shirts and his just-as-ever-present headband.

He is shown with his back to the world, walking away, symbolizing the 38-year-old Spaniard’s goodbye to the sport after a remarkable career.

“It’s going to be very exciting for everyone,” said tournament director Feliciano Lopez, a former player who faced Nadal 14 times on tour as an opponent in singles and also was his Davis Cup teammate. “Very emotional, at the same time.”

That sentiment likely applies to Nadal’s fans, other players, his family — his wife and their son have attended practice — and, quite understandably, the 22-time Grand Slam champion himself as Tuesday approaches. That’s when Spain face the Netherlands on an indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena.

“It’s amazing that it might be the last match that Nadal plays,” Dutch captain Paul Haarhuis said Sunday, “and we hope to give him a nice ‘Adios.’”

Nadal had hip surgery in June 2023 and missed nearly all of that season. He dealt with a new hip muscle problem this year and an abdominal injury, part of a long series of issues that contributed to his body feeling like what he described as “a jungle” in May after losing in the first round of the French Open, the clay-court Slam he’s won a record 14 times.

That was his only Grand Slam appearance all year; Nadal played a total of just 23 official singles matches over the past two seasons combined. That includes going 12-7 in 2024. His last real matches came at the Olympics in early August, when he lost in the second round of singles to Novak Djokovic and in the quarterfinals of doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz.

Spain’s captain, David Ferrer, the 2013 French Open runner-up to Nadal, has not yet told the world how he will employ the star in Malaga.

Could be for singles, although Nadal said he’ll step aside if he doesn’t think he can win. Could be in doubles with his 21-year-old heir apparent, Alcaraz, in a renewal of their “Nadalcaraz” partnership. Could be both. If Spain gets past the Netherlands, it would face Germany or Canada in the semifinals on Friday.

“I really want him to retire with a title,” Alcaraz said.

Thursday’s quarterfinals feature the US against Australia, and defending champion Italy — whose roster features No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner — against Argentina. The winners of those matchups will meet in the semifinals on Saturday; the championship will be decided Sunday.

When Nadal explained last month that the Davis Cup would be it for him, he spoke in happy terms about his more than two decades in the sport.

“Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true,” he said.

He becomes the second member of the so-called Big Three of men’s tennis to retire.

Roger Federer announced his departure in 2022 — teaming with Nadal in doubles at the Laver Cup, then crying alongside his longtime rival and, eventually, friend — while Djokovic is still near the top of the game.

Djokovic’s Serbia did not qualify for the Davis Cup quarterfinals, but he wrote on social media that he would be on hand in Malaga. Who knows who else might show up in the sellout crowd of 9,200 on Tuesday, not just from the world of tennis, and not just athletes from other sports, but other celebrities, as well?

“I don’t know if we’re going to have seats for everyone,” Lopez said. “Everyone wants to be there for his farewell.”

There will be plenty of folks tuning in on TV from afar, including other tennis players, of course.

“I’m going to watch it. I’m going to enjoy it,” said 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who lost to Nadal in two Grand Slam finals. “It’s a big moment for the sport, because he did so much for the sport.”


‘I wouldn’t want to be in those shoes’: Sergio Perez says partnering Verstappen would be a tall order for a young driver

‘I wouldn’t want to be in those shoes’: Sergio Perez says partnering Verstappen would be a tall order for a young driver
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‘I wouldn’t want to be in those shoes’: Sergio Perez says partnering Verstappen would be a tall order for a young driver

‘I wouldn’t want to be in those shoes’: Sergio Perez says partnering Verstappen would be a tall order for a young driver
  • With speculation rife around the Mexican’s future at Red Bull, he sends a reminder of just how tough his job really is

ABU DHABI: With his future at Red Bull Racing in doubt, Sergio Perez has provided an honest assessment of the challenge of being the teammate of four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

Despite signing a new contract that should keep him in the Red Bull seat until the end of 2026, rumors have swirled around the potential exit of the Mexican driver, given the dip in his performance over the past six months.

“It’s an incredible challenge. I knew what I signed up for when I came here,” Perez said in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

“It’s an incredible challenge, and a challenge that people should not underestimate the level of experience, the level of capacity, of mental strength, that you need to cope with this extreme challenge.”

The 34-year-old joined the Milton Keynes-based outfit in 2021 and played a crucial role in helping Verstappen edge Lewis Hamilton in the season-closer in Abu Dhabi that year.

With Verstappen and Perez in tandem, Red Bull secured the constructors’ championship in 2022 and 2023, including a one-two in the drivers’ championship last season.

This year has told a different story, though, for Perez, who started 2024 by making the podium in four of the first five races and signing a contract extension in June, before struggling on the track for the rest of the season.

In his last 16 races, the Guadalajara native has had four DNFs, and has scored a mere 45 points.

With disappointing results since Monaco at the end of May, speculation has risen over possible replacements for Perez, whose new contract may include performance-related clauses.

Young candidates

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said after the Qatar Grand Prix last weekend that Perez is “old enough and wise enough to come to his own conclusions but there is still a race to go, so let’s get to the end of Abu Dhabi and see where we are at.”

Several names have been thrown around as possible replacements for Perez, including Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, the drivers from Red Bull’s sister outfit RB — a team specifically designed to be a feeder for Red Bull.

Tsunoda, 24, has been at RB for four seasons and his current P12 in the drivers’ championship would be his highest finish since making his F1 debut in 2021. He is also scheduled to drive the Red Bull car in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi next week.

Lawson, 22, joined Red Bull’s Junior Team in 2019. The Kiwi driver subbed in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo at RB last year and was given the full seat late this season. Abu Dhabi will be just the 11th Grand Prix Lawson has raced so far in his young career.

Others have mentioned the 21-year-old Franco Colapinto, who has shown great promise since he got a Williams seat in Monza this season but is so far without a drive for 2025.

Perez believes it would be a tall order for a young driver to come in and replace him as Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate.

“I think being teammates with Max at Red Bull, for a young driver, I wouldn’t want to be in those shoes, if I’m honest,” said Perez.

“Like I said, people cannot underestimate the level of challenge that there is in this seat.”

A role with a heavy toll

Williams driver Alex Albon, who spent a season and a half as Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull, shared some insight into his own experience alongside the Dutch driver.

“It’s a tricky one. I think first of all you have to just appreciate the talent that Max has, that’s number one,” said Albon.

“Number two is, it’s not always that comfortable to drive that car. I don’t know where it is now for Checo (Perez), I haven’t been following along too much. But he likes a car quite different; it’s not easy for a driver to adapt to it.

“And then it’s just that toll of it. You’re in the spotlight constantly and it’s a tough place to be and I think for anyone, it’s not going to be an easy place to be, to be his teammate.”

Perez has indeed struggled with the RB20, which has not suited his driving style.

“I think when you look back at it, I was in the fight in 2022, I was in the fight in 2023, I had some tough moments in ’23 obviously. But then ’24 started really well. I think we just took a wrong direction and with driving styles, it impacts more one driver than the other,” said Perez.

“The way it impacted me, it was a lot harder than, for example, Max, because of his driving style. He can cope with a very neutral balance and I couldn’t. So, that was the main deficit, really.”

Taking responsibility

Perez’s performances mean that Red Bull have won the drivers’ championship via Verstappen but are out of the running in the constructors’ championship, which will be decided in Abu Dhabi this weekend between McLaren and Ferrari.

It is the first time since 1983 that a team that produced the winning driver in the championship only managed to finish third in the constructors’ standings.

Perez has acknowledged the role he played in such an anomaly but deflected the full blame.

“Of course, I take responsibility but also I don’t feel it’s fully all down to one person. I’m obviously part of a big organization, a big team, and it’s very unfortunate that we did not fight any harder for the constructors’,” said the Mexican driver.

Amid all the speculation about his future, Perez is choosing to believe he will be continuing with the team.

“For sure I’ve seen the rumors, but nothing different to the last couple of months. So, in that regard, nothing further to add,” he said.

“I already said it in the last six months that I’m here. I renewed with the team earlier in the year and I’m here to be the driver for the team next year and that’s where my full focus is.

“I think it’s important to stay together because as I said, the season hasn’t been the greatest, but at the end of the day, there’s a reason why they renewed me. They know I can still do it and that’s an important factor.”

‘We have a tremendous talent pool’

Horner spoke to reporters in Abu Dhabi on Friday and has not given a definitive answer regarding Perez’s fate.

The Red Bull boss paid tribute to Perez and the role he played in the team’s success over the past four years but has made no promises about his future.

“This season hasn’t gone to anyone’s plan, particularly with Checo’s performance and since Monaco, it’s been very, very tough for him. And, so, inevitably, once we get this race out of the way, we’ll sit down and discuss the future,” he said.

Asked if he regrets opting to sign an early contract extension with Perez in June, Horner said: “Obviously, at the time, Sergio was performing really well. I think he had four podiums in the first five races. In order to settle his mind and extend that run of form for the rest of the season, we elected to go early, which obviously didn’t work.

“We’re fortunate that we’ve got a tremendous pool of talent. It was good to see Isack Hadjar getting a run out as well in free practice today. We’ve got two talented drivers in VCARB. But until the situation is clear with Sergio and what he wants to do, everything else is purely speculation.”

Joining the elite

With decisions yet to be made, one thing is clear: Whoever ends up being Verstappen’s teammate in 2025 will face a daunting task.

“I think probably being Max’s teammate is the toughest drive in Formula 1 because he’s set such a high standard, such a high bar, and his performances are just relentless,” said Horner.

“So, anybody sat in the car alongside him is going to have tremendous strength of character and have the ability to work within a team, and be able to focus on themselves; to a degree almost ignoring what’s going on in the other car.

“Because I think that’s where, mentally, it becomes incredibly tough. As we’ve seen with many of the greats, I’m sure when you work with Michael Schumacher or Ayrton Senna previously, teammates had a similarly hard job. Max now joins that elite group of people. It’s as simple as that.”


Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list

Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list
Updated 56 min 48 sec ago
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Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list

Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list
  • “Serge won’t be there, Manu won’t be there,” Kompany told reporters, explaining “Manu has rib pain“
  • Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list, which includes England captain Harry Kane, Joao Palhinha, Josip Stanisic and Hiroki Ito

MUNICH: Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer and forward Serge Gnabry will miss Saturday’s clash with Heidenheim, coach Vincent Kompany said Friday.
“Serge won’t be there, Manu won’t be there,” Kompany told reporters, explaining “Manu has rib pain.”
The 38-year-old goalkeeper failed to take part in training on Friday, and Kompany did not indicate when he would return.
Neuer and Gnabry join Bayern’s long injury list, which includes England captain Harry Kane, Joao Palhinha, Josip Stanisic and Hiroki Ito.
Neuer picked up the first red card of his 866-game career in Tuesday’s German Cup loss to Bayer Leverkusen after a first-half collision with Jeremie Frimpong.
Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz replaced Neuer in the 17th minute, making his Bayern debut.
With usual back-up goalie Sven Ulreich still missing due to personal leave, Kompany confirmed Peretz would take the field on Saturday.
Kane injured his hamstring in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund and missed the loss to Leverkusen, but returned to individual training on Thursday.
“It looks good,” Kompany said of Kane’s recovery.
“The way it’s going now, it looks like he could play one or two games in the calendar year, if everything goes well.”
Before going down with injury, Kane scored 20 goals in 19 games in all competitions for Bayern this season.
Despite Tuesday’s German Cup elimination, Bayern are unbeaten in the league and are currently four points clear of second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt at the top of the Bundesliga table.


The Emirati officials putting safety at the heart of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Emirati officials putting safety at the heart of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Updated 06 December 2024
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The Emirati officials putting safety at the heart of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Emirati officials putting safety at the heart of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
  • Heba Abbas Bahaj and Shuhab Ahmed Al-Shehhi explain the vital roles they play during race week at Yas Marina Circuit

ABU DHABI: As the Formula 1 action begins at Yas Marina Circuit, Emirate officials will proudly represent the UAE as part of a strong and diverse team working behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly and safely.

Among those playing a crucial role at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend are Heba Abbas Bahaj and Shuhab Ahmed Al-Shehhi. As members of the Emirates Motorsport Organization, their responsibilities include helping ensure the drivers’ safety on track and keeping the public out of harm’s way.

Heba, who has 16 years of experience, will have the best seat in the house when the lights go out at the start of the race, and when the checkered flag waves at the end. As chief flag official, one of her responsibilities is to monitor the start and finish of all sessions and races over the weekend, liaising closely with race control.

“A lot of preparation goes into what is essentially the biggest motorsport event in our race calendar,” said Heba, 41, who volunteered at the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009 before starting her career as an EMSO official.

“For my position, the training sessions include ‘flag refresher,’ ‘communication’ and ‘pit lane’ and they span over two months, culminating in a practical shakedown session at the end. We had to pass a written exam to be ready for the event.”

From Friday to Sunday, Heba says she expects to get approximately four hours of sleep each night, leaving her house at 6 a.m. and returning late in the evening. Despite the long, hectic days it is a job she loves, and she is looking forward to helping make sure the event is a success.

She said: “Yes, we have the best seat at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but it’s not all glamour and easy. As officials, it’s our responsibility to ensure everyone is safe, as well as the safety of the track section we are responsible for. Therefore, we need to be vigilant and attentive at all times, which means standing on our feet for long periods of time, monitoring, and reporting on incidents we see that might affect the safety or integrity of the race.

“As start and finish line officials, we need to be super attentive and monitor what’s going on (on) track, especially when it’s a close finish and the leader is approaching our location. Now, imagine having to do all of this under the watchful eyes of millions of people — yes, it’s a fun and enjoyable time, but it’s also a lot of pressure and responsibility.”

Joining Heba on the EMSO team of officials is Shuhab Ahmed Al-Shehhi. With 12 years’ experience, the 38-year-old enters the F1 season finale as the event’s F1 sector chief.

His main priorities during race week include ensuring his team understand their roles and have the correct equipment for going trackside, monitoring areas for hazardous materials, and attending a daily debrief.

He said: “I am really excited about this week’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, although it will be a busy period. I always try to pass on positive vibes to people that I meet as that is very important and sets the tone ahead.

“Having been in this field for 12 years, what pleases me the most is the dedication of each official and their determination to do their job to the best of their ability, and I believe anyone who wants to be an EMSO official marshal in the future must be willing to learn, be a team player, and be honest.

“More importantly, they must possess a deep passion for motorsports. I recall the first time I sat in an F1 car many years ago, which ignited my love for the sport. Now, I am serving as a race official for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in my home country.”

Mahir Badri, EMSO chief executive, added: “Since the inaugural Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009, our collaboration with (Grand Prix organizers) Ethara and Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management has been instrumental in developing a robust team of officials. Today, we are proud to say that our UAE teams are among the best in the world — highly skilled and respected internationally.

“The presence of Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi has made this profession increasingly attractive, and we’re especially proud of our Emirati officials and the diverse community of residents who form the UAE’s EMSO team. They consistently go above and beyond, dedicating their time and energy to ensuring the success of major motorsport events.”

He added: “Just days ago, we concluded the Dubai International Baja, a challenging event that tested the endurance and commitment of our officials, who delivered exceptional results under tough desert conditions.

“With over 6,000 active race officials within EMSO, our team not only excels locally but also plays a significant role internationally, supporting prestigious motorsport events across the globe. Their dedication and professionalism continue to be the backbone of our motorsport community.”


UAE’s Rashid Al-Dhaheri fastest in F4 Middle East Trophy first practice

UAE’s Rashid Al-Dhaheri fastest in F4 Middle East Trophy first practice
Updated 06 December 2024
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UAE’s Rashid Al-Dhaheri fastest in F4 Middle East Trophy first practice

UAE’s Rashid Al-Dhaheri fastest in F4 Middle East Trophy first practice
  • Chloe Chambers tops the F1 Academy timesheet, with title favorite Abbi Pulling in second

ABU DHABI: The UAE’s Rashid Al-Dhaheri recorded the quickest time in the first practice session of the Formula 4 Middle East Trophy Round as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 weekend officially got underway.

At Yas Marina Circuit, the Mumbai Falcons Racing driver clocked 1:56.905 to hold off Evans GP’s Kai Daryanani of Great Britain, who was second fastest (1:57.309) while Indonesia’s Kabir Anurag of Xcel Motorsport finished third.

Meanwhile, Yas Heat’s Racing Academy saw its drivers in the top 10 fastest times with Adam Al-Azhari (1:57.838) and his teammate August Raber (1:57.930) finishing seventh and ninth, respectively.

Chloe Chambers topped the F1 Academy’s one and only practice session at Yas Marina Circuit with a lap of 1:56.175, followed closely 0.138 seconds later by Abbi Pulling — the current favorite to re-claim the F1 Academy championship in Abu Dhabi.

Dorian Pin’s last lap push was enough to secure third, with Emirati racer Hamda Al-Qubaisi in the Red Bull finishing fourth. With fewer than two-tenths of a second separating the top four front runners, today’s qualifying session should be close.

Fifth-placed Bianca Bustamente has had a tough run in the series, having not scored points since Barcelona, however she looked in decent form in the practice run, leading the rest of the midfield.


NBA to return to China for first time since 2019 fallout

NBA to return to China for first time since 2019 fallout
Updated 06 December 2024
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NBA to return to China for first time since 2019 fallout

NBA to return to China for first time since 2019 fallout
  • No NBA games have been held in China since two pre-season contests in 2019
  • Basketball is hugely popular in China and in the fallout the NBA lost hundreds of millions of dollars

MACAU: The NBA will stage two pre-season games in Macau next October, its deputy commissioner said on Friday, marking its return to China after being frozen out for more than five years.
No NBA games have been held in China since two pre-season contests in 2019 after a tweet from then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Morey posted an image bearing a slogan used by demonstrators urging the world to “Stand with Hong Kong.”
He later deleted the tweet and apologized, but China effectively cut ties with the league after NBA executives defended Morey’s right to freedom of expression.
Basketball is hugely popular in China and in the fallout the NBA lost hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of it being yanked off Chinese television until 2022.
“It’s my pleasure to announce that the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play two pre-season games at Sands’ Venetian Arena on October 10 and October 12, 2025,” deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said in Macau.
Macau is a special administrative region under China’s “one country, two systems” framework and is known as the country’s Las Vegas, being the only city that allows gambling.
Tatum said that Macau was home to “some of the most passionate” NBA fans.
The Venetian Arena is part of the Las Vegas Sands conglomerate controlled by the Adelson family, who are the majority ownership group in the Dallas Mavericks.
ESPN, citing unnamed sources, said the relationship between the NBA and China had improved with the aid of NBA China chief executive Michael Ma, who was hired in 2020.
The games will be part of a multimillion-dollar agreement to stage two annual NBA pre-season matches over the next five years in Macau, according to the South China Morning Post.
Las Vegas Sands was “excited... (to be) announcing a multi-year collaboration with one of the most powerful and iconic global sports brands in history,” chief executive Patrick Dumont told a Macau press conference.
Basketball fans on Chinese social media welcomed the announcement, although some were pessimistic that NBA games would ever come back to the mainland.
“I’m so excited just thinking about it and am looking forward to exciting games in October,” one user on social media platform Weibo said.
“Can only go to Macau.. this relationship (between China and the NBA) has not been repaired at all,” another Beijing-based user said.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver forecasted at a sports management conference in October that the league would “bring back games to China at some point.”
“We had a well-known incident there pre-pandemic with a tweet and China’s government took us off the air for a period of time,” Silver said.
“We accepted that. We stood by our values.”
The NBA has looked to grow globally, including playing recent pre-season games in Abu Dhabi.
Emirates Airlines sponsors the NBA Cup, the league’s in-season tournament.
China is home to a huge basketball fanbase and from 2004 to 2019, 17 teams played a total of 28 pre-season games there.
Macau’s multibillion-dollar gambling industry has remained its economic lifeline and main attraction for visitors, although Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged the city to diversify its portfolio.