Defeated in two straight sets (6-4, 6-4) and a little less than two hours by the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (80th) for his last tournament during the Davis Cup, Rafael Nadal gave a glimpse that this meeting could to be last, regardless of Spain's final result in the competition.
Did Rafael Nadal play the last match of his immense career this Tuesday? In a heated atmosphere in Malaga, the 38-year-old Majorcan was beaten by Botic van de Zandschulp (80th) in his first official singles match since July. Eager to get Spain off to a good start against the Netherlands in this quarter-final of the Davis Cup, the final competition he is competing in, the Bull of Manacor conceded the first defeat of his career against his opponent, whom he had dominated once on clay and once on grass in 2022. Nadal's setback is only his second singles defeat in the Davis Cup, for 29 victories.
“It’s not my decision (to play), that’s why we have a captain, and I’m not,” confided the man with 22 Grand Slam titles, who dropped a huge clue about the following his adventure in Malaga, regardless of Spain's result against the Dutch in this quarter-final.
“Since the decision to bring me on today didn't work out, the easiest and perhaps fairest solution is to change. That's what I think. If I were the captain , I won't play the rest (Friday in fact, Editor's note). But I'm sure he will make the best decision for the team. It was probably my last match if nothing weird happens, I lost. my first Davis Cup match and I lost my last.”
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Spain and Nadal behind Alcaraz
Eager to “help the team”, Rafael Nadal is ready to do it in any way possible, even from the bench. “I hope Carlos (Alcaraz) wins his match and also the double. The satisfaction is to give the team the point and help them to continue in the competition, it hasn't been like that, I lost the match. I'm here to help the team. Today I was selected and I tried to win, but it wasn't possible. I hope we can continue. to work hard every day to be in the team in case I was needed again. If not, I will do it off the field I knew it was possible. -being my last match as a professional tennis player, the moments leading up to it were emotional and difficult to deal with, a lot of emotions I tried to do my best, staying in control, which is sometimes. difficult,” he continued.
Very moved at the time of the Spanish anthem, the King of clay tried to have “the best attitude” in front of “an extraordinary audience” but he was beaten by an opponent “better than [lui]”. “The decision was made to play me, we knew it was a bit risky. But David had seen us training all week and he thought it was the best thing to do from a sporting point of view. I couldn't give the point, I'm not going to say I'm sorry because it's sport, I tried and I couldn't. We can't control the level we have. What you can control is energy and determination, which have never failed me. But I didn't find the level to give Spain the point. I was more precise in training than in today's match.”
The disappointment erased, Nadal returned to the Spanish bench to encourage Carlos Alcaraz, opposed to Tallon Griezspoor to try to leave Spain alive in this Davis Cup. History of postponing the farewell of the hero of the nation as late as possible.
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