Spain's Davis Cup captain David Ferrer will not reveal whether Rafael Nadal will feature in Tuesday's quarter-final against Netherlands until the 11th hour, with fans eager to get a final glimpse of the Mallorcan in action before he bows out from the sport.

Rafael Nadal felt a hand on his left shoulder as he walked out of a conference room at a resort on Spain’s southern coast following his first question-and-answer session with reporters since announcing the Davis Cup Final 8 will be his last event before retirement.

Rafael Nadal has insisted he is not concerned about an “ideal ending” to his tennis career on an individual level, with his full focus on helping Spain to win the Davis Cup.