Rafael Nadal lost the Davis Cup final to Botic van de Zandsjulph, in what would have been the final match of the Spaniard’s career.
Van de Zandsjulf won 6-4, 6-4, giving the Netherlands a 1-0 lead in the quarterfinals against Spain. It was Nadal’s second loss in Davis Cup singles, the other coming in his debut against the Czech Republic in 2004.
Nadal, 38, is set to retire from professional tennis after the team event in Malaga and will not be able to play again if Spain later loses the second singles rubber.
“I think this is my last professional singles match,” Nadal said at a press conference.
“It might be good in some ways if it was my last game (..) I lost my first game in the Davis Cup and I lost my last game too, so we close the circle.”
Carlos Alcaraz will face Tallon Griekspoor in the other singles match, while Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers will face Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof if the Wimbledon champions can achieve a best-of-three series. At the end of the event, the doubles rubber will be decided.
Thousands of Spanish fans flocked to the Martin Carpena Stadium, clad in red and yellow flags and scarves, ready to cheer on their national hero for perhaps the final moment.
Nadal’s eyes filled with tears as the national anthem was played movingly. But his trademark sprint to the back of the court showed he was serious.
This was Nadal’s eighth official competition this season, and his only singles match since the Olympics in July was an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia last month.
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Nadal revealed that he was retiring because his body was not capable of competing at the highest level.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion including 14 French Open titles, put up a good fight against the big-serving Dutchman but had his serve broken late in the first set.
He started to fall off the pace, and no amount of collective goodwill could stop him from double collapsing in the second.
This greatest yellow ball warrior was determined to fight to the end, trying to regain one break and redeem himself on level terms.
However, Van de Zandschulp is a player who has risen to 22nd place in the world. He finished the match by walking away after Nadal hit a final forehand, waving and kissing the crowd before shaking hands one last time. head.
Van de Zandschulp said: “The crowd was strong, that’s understandable. That’s what it’s like to play in Spain against Rafa. He’s the biggest sportsman who has ever lived here. It’s a really special event.
“It’s hard to finish a game against him, knowing it could be his last… I just tried and it helped in the end.”
The winner of the tie will face either Germany or Canada in Friday’s semifinals.
Nadal helped Spain win the Davis Cup in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019.
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