Rafael Nadal (ATP 154) may have lost the last match of his career in the Davis Cup quarter-finals. The 38-year-old Spaniard lost 6-4 6-4 in Malaga against the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (ATP 80), who brought the first point to his country.
Facing the Dutchman, “Rafa” was level for a long time before losing his faceoff at 4-4 in the first set. He was then broken at the start of the second set, then a third time to see van de Zandschulp lead 4-1. A last stand allowed him to erase one of these breaks, but he could do nothing when his opponent served for the match.
The future of the Majorcan, who will retire at the end of the competition, will therefore depend on the result of his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz (ATP 3) against Tallon Griekspoor (ATP 40) in the evening, before a possible decisive double between the Spanish pair composed of ‘Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers (ATP 4 in doubles) and the Dutch one composed of van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof (ATP 8 in doubles).
In the event of qualification, Rafael Nadal could replay in the semi-finals on Friday against Germany or Canada if captain David Ferrer decides to field him again, while in the event of elimination, his career would end on this final defeat in just under two hours against the Batavian.
>> Also read: Roger Federer pours out: “Rafa, you made me love tennis even more”
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