Alex Corretja says he feel ‘alarmed’ for Rafael Nadal’s future after his Laver Cup withdrawal

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Rafael Nadal announced his withdrawal from the Laver Cup on Thursday despite experiencing ‘no physical problems’.

Whispers circulated that this was the last event Rafael Nadal would ever play – he would decidedly bow out exactly how Roger Federer did to years prior.

The 38-year-old pulled out of the US Open and has since not played a competitive match since his Olympic doubles exploits with Carlos Alcaraz.

Nadal was set to make up a much-changed Team Europe team, having been thumped 13-2 by Team World last year.

However, late on Thursday, Nadal announced his withdrawal from the event simply saying that while he was experiencing no physical issues, it wasn’t the right time to return to compete.

Alex Corretja admits feeling ‘alarmed’ by Rafael Nadal’s Laver Cup absence

With Grigor Dimitrov parachuted in to take Nadal’s place, the theories over his presumed imminent retirement have only communed to spawn.

John McEnroe suggested Nadal’s retirement might wait until next year, claiming the Spaniard still displays a clear ‘appetite’ to play.

Spanish former player Alex Corretja admitted that Nadal’s decision came as a shock and expressed his concern over when exactly the 38-year-old will be ready to compete again.

“I was really surprised because I thought the Laver Cup was a more relaxed competition, although once they’re there, the teams always want to win, but you can play singles or doubles, it can be adapted more to what you need,” Corretja told Eurosport.

“When I read yesterday that he wasn’t going to compete, I was a little alarmed: if he’s not ready to compete in the Laver Cup, when will he be? I hope he recovers or when he feels he’s fit again, he’ll go back to where he thinks is appropriate.”

Could the Davis Cup be the perfect place for Rafael Nadal to retire?

With a Spain team led by Alcaraz progressing to the quarter-finals after wins over France and Czechia, a buoyant home crowd will be there to support their nation in Malaga.

Corretja speculated that the Davis Cup last eight could be an event for Nadal to aim for.

“To be in the Davis Cup final phase in Malaga would be an impressive goal for Rafa and the entire Spanish team,” he said.

Give Nadal’s injury-hampered last few seasons, his level is understandably not where it used to be – whether he would even make the team is certainly up for debate.

However, with the Laver Cup off the cards as Nadal’s retirement place, a farewell in front of a home crowd seems a far more fitting setting for the curtain to come down.