Rafael Nadal already has comeback invitation with Spaniard in race against time to recover

Rafael Nadal has already been offered a spot in Spain’s Davis Cup team later this year as he continues to recover from a psoas injury. The 37-year-old originally cited the team event as a possible comeback tournament. But after undergoing arthroscopic surgery his participation will go down to the wire as Nadal may not recover in time for the Davis Cup.

Nadal has been sidelined since getting injured at January’s Australian Open. The Spaniard never truly recovered and was forced to pull out of the French Open, also admitting that 2024 would likely be his final year on the tour as he planned something of a retirement tour.

When he announced his retirement plans last month, the 37-year-old said he might look to use the Davis Cup Finals as the starting point for his return to competition if he was picked by the captain. But he was given a five-month recovery timeframe for his recent hip surgery – leaving him in a race against time to be ready for November’s Final 8 stage if Spain gets there.

While Nadal’s comeback remains uncertain, Spain’s Davis Cup captain has already confirmed that there would likely be a place for the 22-time Grand Slam champion – even if he wasn’t fit. “Possibly yes, for all that he can transmit,” David Ferrer told Eurosport.

“Nadal even without being 100 per cent is a very special player, who transmits a lot and who is so good on court. You can trust him for his ability to suffer and in his tennis.” Ferrer became Spain’s Davis Cup captain when Sergi Bruguera stepped down in December.

But Spain will first need to make it out of the group stage in September to qualify for a place in November’s Finals week in Malaga. Spain will host Group C rivals Serbia, the Czech Republic and Korea in Valencia from September 12 to 17.

If they make it to the Final 8, Nadal will need to be ready to play from November 21 to 26 – almost exactly five months after his recent surgery on June 2. But Nadal’s former Davis Cup teammate Feliciano Lopez is already doubting whether the 37-year-old will be ready in time.