The second defeat of his career in Davis Cup singles
Five games went in favor of the 80th in the world, time for him to lead 6-4, 2-0. Direct or induced errors (16 in total in the first set) piled up on the local hero’s stats sheet, for only 4 winning forehands, a pittance. Pushed by an entire people, with blows ” If possible ! » (“If it’s possible!”), Nadal stopped the bleeding by winning a grueling and oh-so-important service game to return to 2-1. But the effort cost him another break two games later. Faithful to its inexorable refusal to abdicate, and supported by the «Spain, Spain! » from the Palacio Deportes José Maria Martin Carpena, Nadal erased a ball from 5-1, then another from 5-2, to stay in contact at 4-3, Van de Zandschulp service: a double fault, a good return from the Spaniard and the idea of yet another “Rafa”-style overthrow was gaining ground. Her opponent’s three aces immediately chased her away.
