MALAGA, Spain — Rafael Nadal misplaced 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp within the Davis Cup on Tuesday in what often is the final match of the Spaniard’s life.
The 22-year-old Grand Slam champion retires from skilled tennis after the group occasion in Malaga, whereas Nadal is not going to play once more if Spain lose their second singles match in opposition to the Netherlands in a while Tuesday.
Third-placed Carlos Alcaraz confronted 40 Tallon Griekspoor on the opposite tracks, and if the best-of-three collection remains to be tied, it’s set to be Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers of Spain in opposition to van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands. in double willpower.
Nadal was congratulating Alcaraz and his teammates on the Spanish bench within the center, and was pumping his fist after an important level received by his youthful teammate.
Spain will play once more within the semi-finals on Friday in the event that they struggle to beat the Dutch, though Nadal stated he wouldn’t select to play once more given the way in which he performed in opposition to No. 80 van de Zandschulp.
“Possibly it is a simple transfer and possibly it is the fitting transfer to vary,” Nadal stated. “I imply, if I change into captain, possibly I’ll change, I do not set myself the subsequent day. If we go, that is my feeling.”
The 38-year-old Nadal had received 29 Davis Cup singles matches in a row.
“It is good in a method, possibly, if that was my final match,” Nadal stated. “I misplaced in my first match within the Davis Cup, I misplaced within the final one. So we shut the circle.”
Nadal had not performed an official match in 3 1/2 months and had a 12-7 singles file in 2024.
His final official competitors was on the Paris Olympics in August, the place he misplaced to long-time rival Novak Djokovic within the second spherical. Nadal reached two quarterfinals in opposition to Alcaraz in Paris, and final month performed two exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia.
“I knew it could be my final match as an expert participant and the feelings have been tough to manage,” stated Nadal. “I could not study the sport rapidly sufficient to really feel in management. While you spend a variety of time away from the competitors, all the things is set in small particulars and I am not in the identical type because the gamers on the circuit. At this time is not going to be a day for me to criticize myself.”
Nadal fought effectively in opposition to van de Zandschulp within the first set however was damaged late. He was damaged once more to start out the second set, and was unable to return to the match on the arduous court docket on the sold-out Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in southern Spain.
“That was a troublesome, robust sport,” stated van de Zandschulp. “Taking part in Rafa right here in Spain, who might be the best sportsman right here in Spain, so the ambiance was loopy. For me, once I was rising up he was (my) idol.”
Nadal had stated earlier than the beginning of Spain that he would not wish to play any singles matches if he did not really feel prepared, and stated he wished captain David Ferrer to make what he thought was one of the best choice for the staff with out inflicting a stir. contemplating his retirement.
Nadal helped Spain win the Davis Cup in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019.
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