 "Carlos Alcaraz (L) and Rafael Nadal (R) celebrate during their doubles match at Roland Garros during the Paris Olympics. AP")
Spain named 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in their five-man Davis Cup team on Monday. Italy have also included heavyweight World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in their team for the final-eight in Malaga.
Nadal, 38, opted out of the US Open and Laver Cup in recent months and last played the Paris Olympics. He has only taken part in one of the last seven Grand Slams due to injury and fitness struggles.
French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz will be Spain’s central figure as they bid to win the competition for the first time since 2019, starting with a clash against the Netherlands.
Alcaraz played a key role in steering Team Europe to Laver Cup victory over Team World on Sunday in Berlin.
US Open and Australian Open champion Sinner has been named in Italy’s squad for the finals, which start on November 19.
The 23-year-old was crucial as Italy triumphed last year, beating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic twice in one day, first in singles and then in doubles, in the semi-finals.
Italy, who face Argentina in their quarter-finals, beat Australia in the 2023 final to win the competition for the first time since 1976.