Carlos Alcaraz shows how highly he thinks of Rafael Nadal with Davis Cup claim

has claimed 's "farewell" to tennis is more important than the Davis Cup this week.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner will retire at the age of 38 in front of an emotional home crowd in Malaga after years dogged by injuries.

The city on the Costa del Sol has been festooned with banners declaring: "Gracias Rafa" in the build-up which starts on Tuesday with Spain facing Netherlands.

And the atmosphere will only build if the hosts progress to next Sunday's final where Nadal will bid to win his sixth Davis Cup title. His first was in nearby Seville in 2004 when he was still a teenager.

Tennis superstar Nadal is a sporting icon here and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz, who played doubles with Nadal at the Olympics, said: "Rafa's farewell is more important than the Davis Cup. There are Davis Cups every year, but there is only one 'farewell' to a tennis legend.

"Doing it in a tournament so special for him, which has meant so much to him since that victory in 2004 against Anduy Roddick. It will be very special and I hope he can retire with the title.

"This Davis Cup is probably the most special tournament of my career. My passion for representing Spain is one of the greatest things in the world. Having Rafa at my side, knowing that it is his last tournament, makes it much more special.

"Rafa deserves to end such an important career with a title. It's going to be really, really emotional and a really special tournament for me."

Spain captain David Ferrer must decide whether to play Nadal in the singles or the doubles. Roberto Bautista Agut, Pedro Martinez and Marcel Granollers are also in the five-man squad.

Eurosport analyst Alex Corretja said: "Of course it will be captain David Ferrer's decision. I mean the good thing about Rafa is that he is David's friend. I am 100 per cent sure that they have talked about it and Rafa will be honest with David about what he is capable of doing. If he feels ready to play singles, or just doubles.

"If he plays doubles, he can play with Alcaraz, but also with Granollers because we have good specialists. We will see. Can he play singles? I am not so sure because he has not played for so long in singles. So will he take the risk to play singles?

"Because you never know with the movements, the feeling. Probably, he will save his energy for doubles, but doubles can be crucial in the Davis Cup. So Rafa can bring a lot of things to the team."

The 14-time French Open winner Nadal, who started practising here on Friday, will be the third member of the Big Four to retire after Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

"I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country," he said. "I think I've come full circle, because one of my first great joys as a professional tennis player was the Davis Cup final in Seville in 2004."