Rafael Nadal misplaced 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp within the Davis Cup on Tuesday in what could have been the final match of the Spaniard’s profession.
Nadal is retiring from skilled tennis after the crew occasion in Malaga, and he won’t get to play once more if Spain loses the second singles match towards the Netherlands later Tuesday.
Third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz will face No. 40 Tallon Griekspoor within the different singles, and if the best-of-three collection stays tied, it will likely be Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers for Spain towards van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof for the Netherlands within the deciding doubles.
A dream begin in Malaga for @Boticvdz and @KNLTB 🇳🇱#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/yDI59NXZpn
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 19, 2024
Spain will play once more in Friday’s semifinal if it rallies to defeat the Dutch.
Earlier, Nadal bit his decrease lip and his eyes scanned the stands as he stood alongside his Davis Cup teammates for Spain’s nationwide anthem Tuesday earlier than what he — and everybody — knew could be the final match of his profession, a loss to van de Zandschulp.
There have been no tears streaming down Nadal’s cheeks, no outward signal of what this second meant to the 22-time Grand Slam champion, even amid the roars of a sign- and flag-toting crowd, principally right here for one participant and one participant solely. Nadal stated beforehand that the feelings would want to attend, that this week was about making an attempt to say one final title for his nation, not about his impending retirement.
The 38-year-old Spaniard introduced final month this occasion could be it for him as knowledgeable tennis participant after two years of accidents that restricted him to competing solely sparingly, however nobody might ensure if that finish would arrive in Tuesday’s quarterfinals or later within the Davis Cup Ultimate 8, which wraps up Sunday.
Nadal’s defeat within the opening contest was solely the beginning of the best-of-three Spain vs. Netherlands matchup, adopted by No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz towards No. 40 Tallon Griekspoor later Tuesday, and doubles, too, if the groups have been tied 1-all after singles.
So it was as much as Nadal’s countrymen to increase his profession. If Spain managed to advance to the semifinals, Nadal’s enjoying days might proceed. If the Netherlands have been to win, he could be completed.
