Rafael Nadal’s potential last match confirmed as fans pay £20k for tickets to farewell | Tennis | Sport

Rafael Nadal will play the first match of his final tournament after Spain announced the 22-time Grand Slam winner will play the opening singles against the Netherlands.

The Spanish superstar, 38, will retire following the season-ending event in his homeland.

And the former world No.1 has not played since the Olympics and has admitted in his pre-tournament press conference on Monday that he has been forced to quit because of a “cocktail” of injuries.

But with tickets for today’s ties have been selling for up to £20,000 (€24,000) on ticket re-sale sites, Spain captain David Ferrer has decided to send out Nadal in the first match against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

Nadal has played only 23 official singles matches over the last two seasons after hip surgery and then an abdominal injury this year. He will not be picked on current form.

But the five-time winner has an outstanding Davis Cup record and has 29 consecutive singles wins since 2004.

Victory for Spain against Netherlands tonight will see them through to Friday’s semi-final against either Canada or Germany.

The final will be held in Malaga on Sunday where the dream scenario for the host nation – and for the millions of Nadal’s fans – will be the Spanish superstar ending his career with a sixth Davis Cup victory.

Carlos Alcaraz will play the second singles tie against Dutch No.1 Tallon Griekspoor.

And the doubles pairings – which can still be changed – will see Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers play Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof, who is also playing his last tournament.