“I haven't spoken to him, but I would be surprised if he could already be playing by the end of this year,” Lopez advised EFE after he was named the match director for the Davis Cup Finals. But the previous world No 12 did suppose that Ferrer would need to have Nadal within the squad.

He added: “ I am sure that David, as Davis Cup captain, if he had to make a wish, it would be to have Carlitos [Alcaraz] and Rafa. Any captain in the world. In the end, that would be the dream moment for any captain and any fan, especially playing in Spain.”