MALAGA, Spain – Rafael Nadal's last professional match was a 6-4, 6-4 loss to world No. 80 Botic van de Zandsschulp in the Davis Cup, and Spain was eliminated by the Netherlands on Tuesday.
Spain lost 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the team event, the last for Nadal, who has been on tour for more than 20 years and won 22 Grand Slam titles.
Carlos Alcaraz extended Nadal's career a bit more by defeating world No. 40 Taron Griekspur 7-6 (0), 6-3 in the second singles match, but Alcaraz and Marcel Granoliz decided They lost in doubles 7-6(4)7. -6(3) to Van de Zanzschulp and Wesley Kuhlhoff.
The Netherlands will play either Germany or Canada, who play Wednesday, in the semifinals on Friday.
It is unclear whether Nadal will play another match even if Spain advances, with Nadal saying after the defeat that he would not choose to play in the semi-final again if it were Spain captain David Ferrer. .
“Probably the easy action, probably the right action, is to change,” Nadal said. “I mean, if I were captain, I'd probably change, I'm not going to put myself out there the next day. If I can pass, that's how I feel.”
After the loss, the 38-year-old Nadal cheered on his teammates from the Spanish bench beside Center Court, often shouting and pumping his fist after his younger teammates won important points.
He stood up just before the end and animatedly cheered on the Spanish duo on the court.
Nadal is no stranger to winning in Davis Cup, having won 29 consecutive singles matches in the tournament.
“In a way, it might have been better if this was my last match,” Nadal said. “We lost our first Davis Cup game and we lost our last game. So we close the circle.”
Nadal has not played any official match in the past three and a half months, and his singles record in 2024 was 12 wins and 7 losses.
His last official match was at the Paris Olympics in August, when he lost to his longtime rival. Novak Djokovic In the second round.
nadal has arrived doubles quarterfinals They faced Alcaraz in Paris and played two exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia last month.
“I knew this could be my last match as a professional, but it was difficult to control my emotions,” Nadal said. “I just couldn't read the game fast enough to feel like I was in control. When you spend so much time away from competition, it's all about the little details and you're not in the same form as the guys on the circuit. Today is not the day for me to criticize myself.”
Nadal put up a good fight in the first set against the big-serving van de Zantsschulp, but his serve was broken in the final stages.
He was broken at the start of the second set and never fully recovered on the packed indoor hard courts of the Palacio Deportes José María Martín Carpena in southern Spain.
“It was a tough, tough game,” Van de Zantsschulp said. “Playing with Rafa here in Spain, he was probably the biggest sportsman here in Spain, so the atmosphere was crazy. For me growing up, he was (my) idol.”
Nadal said ahead of his Spain debut that he did not want to play a singles match if he felt he was not ready, and told captain David Ferrer he was willing to buy into the hype and do what he thought was best for the team. He said he wanted him to make a decision. His retirement will also be taken into account.
Nadal helped Spain win the Davis Cup in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019.
Kuhlhoff, 35, was also playing in his final tournament before retiring.
