New Delhi: Rafael Nadal went down 4-6, 4-6 to Netherlands Botic van de Zandschulp in Spain’s Davis Cup quarter-final singles rubber in Malaga on Tuesday.
The retiring tennis superstar has declared that the Davis Cup will be his last tournament in the professional circuit after two-injury plagued years.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner tried his best but was clearly not at his best after deciding to play in the opening singles as Netherlands took a 1-0 lead in the five-match tie.
In the seocnd singles match, Carlos Alcaraz takes on Tallon Griekspoor in the second singles match. After his singles, Alcaraz is expected to pair up with Marcel Granollers and face Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof in a doubles tie that could decide the fate of the contest.
If Spain get beaten by the Dutch then the Zandschulp loss would be Nadal’s final professional match of his illustrious career.
There was uncertainty over Nadal’s involvement until the official announcement from Spain team captain David Ferrer, who informed that the 38-year-old would play in the first singles rubber of the opening quarter-finals clash.
Nadal became emotional when Spain;s national anthem was played as fans chanted “Rafa, Rafa”.
But he was not his elements as he lost only his second game in Davis Cup singles career, winning 29 times since debuting in 2004.
World number 80 Van de Zandschulp and Nadal both looked a bit rusty initially but it was the Dutchman who was quicker to steady himself.
Nadal, ranked 154th, was aware of his diminished physical condition and wanted to keep points short.
He tried to serve big and used his famed forehand to win points but Zandschulp was up to the task, returning the balls and making Nadal work for each point, wearing him down eventually.
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