Rafael Nadal suffered defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp within the Davis Cup Finals in what might have been the final match of the Spaniard’s profession.
Van de Zandschulp eased to a 6-4 6-4 win to place Netherlands 1-0 forward of their quarter-final tie in opposition to Spain. It was solely Nadal’s second Davis Cup loss in singles, with the opposite approaching his debut in opposition to Czech Republic approach again in 2004.
Nadal, 38, is retiring from skilled tennis after the staff occasion in Malaga, and he won’t get to play once more if Spain lose the second singles rubber later.
Talking throughout his press convention, Nadal admitted: “I feel that this was my last professional singles match.
“It is in some methods good possibly if that was my final match [..] I misplaced my first match within the Davis Cup, and I misplaced my final one. So we shut the circle.”
Carlos Alcaraz will face Tallon Griekspoor within the different singles, and if the Wimbledon champion can degree up the best-of-three sequence, Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers will tackle Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof, who can be retiring from the game on the finish of the occasion, within the deciding doubles rubber.
The Spanish followers flocked to the Martin Carpena Enviornment of their hundreds, draped in pink and yellow flags and scarves and able to cheer on their nationwide hero for maybe the ultimate time.
There have been tears in Nadal’s eyes throughout a stirring rendition of the nationwide anthem however his trademark dash to the again of the court docket confirmed he meant enterprise.
This was solely Nadal’s eighth official event this season, whereas his solely singles matches because the Olympics in July got here in an exhibition occasion in Saudi Arabia final month.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, together with 14 French Open titles, put up a very good battle in opposition to the big-serving Dutchman however had his serve damaged late within the first set.
He started to look a step off the tempo, the collective goodwill unable to stop him going a double break down within the second.
This biggest of yellow-ball warriors was decided to battle to the tip, retrieving one break and making an attempt to claw himself again on degree phrases.
However Van de Zandschulp is not any mug, the Dutchman having been ranked as excessive as 22 on the planet, and he closed out the match as Nadal netted a closing forehand earlier than waving and blowing kisses to the group, strolling off with a closing shake of the top.
Van de Zandschulp mentioned: “The crowd was tough. Understandable. That’s what it is to play in Spain against Rafa. He’s the biggest sportsman here that ever lived. It’s a really special event.
“It is powerful to shut a match in opposition to him. Figuring out it might be his final… I simply went for it and it helped on the finish.”
The winner of the tie will face either Germany or Canada in the semi-finals on Friday.
Nadal helped Spain win the Davis Cup in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019.
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