Davis Cup | Rafael Nadal loses in what could be his last match

(Málaga, Spain) Rafael Nadal bit his lip and looked around the stands as he lined up side-by-side with his Davis Cup teammates during the Spanish national anthem on Tuesday before what could potentially be his last career match. Then, he lost 6-4, 6-4 to the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

Nadal did not shed a tear, nor expressed the slightest expression that would have reflected the state of mind of the holder of 22 Grand Slam titles in his career, despite the sustained cries of the crowd, the posters and the Spanish flags which were twirling happily above the stands. Most of the spectators had come for one player, and one player only.

He thus saw his series of 29 singles victories come to an end in the Davis Cup. Nadal, however, had not played an official match in almost three and a half months, posting a 12-7 singles record in 2024.

His last official match was at the Paris Olympics in August, when he lost to his eternal rival Novak Djokovic in the second round. Nadal also reached the quarterfinals of the men’s doubles tournament with Alcaraz at the Paris Olympics, and he played two exhibition matches last month in Saudi Arabia.

Nadal offered a good level of play against van de Zandschulp in the first set, but he suffered a break at the end of the set. He was also broken at the start of the second round, and never managed to recover in this duel presented on cement at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena, in the south of Spain.

“Rafa” had already mentioned that the emotions would have to wait, because this week was dedicated to obtaining one last title for his country, and not his last lap before retirement.

The 38-year-old Spaniard announced last month that this competition would be his last as a professional tennis player, after two years marred by injuries that limited his ability to play competitive matches. No one was sure that Tuesday would be his last career singles match, since the Davis Cup continues until Sunday.

Nadal’s defeat in the program’s curtain-raiser means the Netherlands take a 1-0 lead in this best-of-three series. Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3) will now have the mandate to dispose of Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (No. 40) in the second singles match of the day later today to level the score at 1-1 and, if he succeeds, , then there will be an ultimate doubles match.

If necessary, this should pit Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers against Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof. And if Spain manages to qualify for the final four, then Nadal will be able to dream of playing another match. On the other hand, if the Netherlands triumphs, then that will be the end.

Nadal helped Spain win the Davis Cup in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019.