Retiring tennis superstar Rafael Nadal lost to Botik van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-4 in his Davis Cup singles quarterfinals on Tuesday as the Netherlands took a 1-0 lead against Spain. The 22-time Grand Slam winner will retire from professional tennis at the end of Spain’s participation in the Malaga tournament, after two years ravaged by injury. Doubts lingered over Nadal’s participation until an official statement from team captain David Ferrer confirmed that he would play in the first singles match of the first final.
The 38-year-old looked emotional during the Spanish national anthem and when it ended fans filled the arena with chants of “Rafa, Rafa.” Nadal has won his last 29 Davis Cup singles matches out of 30 played – since making his tournament debut in 2004 – and both previous matches against the Dutchman.
Any initial nerves on the veteran’s part subsided when he came in at 15-30 to take the first game. World number 80 Van de Zandschulp double-faulted three times in a row on his first serve at the age of 40, but also managed to stabilize.
No doubt with his deteriorating physical condition in mind, Nadal, ranked 154th in the world, tried to cut down the points with big serves and the occasional flash of his lethal forehand followed by a classic punch and roar.
Van de Zandschulp looked to set up Nadal on his backhand and the Spaniard struggled to come back as the indoor hard-court tournament was less than the ideal surface for the record 14-time Roland Garros winner in the “King of Clay”.
The Dutchman opened two break points at 4-4 and took the second with a fine cross-point winner to take the lead before converting his second set point to dampen the Spanish spirit.
Giving everything
Nadal fought back from 0-30 down early in the second set but was unable to turn it into a hold and his opponent secured the first break when the Spaniard went long, consolidating to pile on the pressure.
After a set and a break, Nadal, looking for a foothold, endured heavy pressure on his serve in the third game from a nervous hold that led to the loudest roar of the night.
Van de Zandschulp denied Nadal the chance to gain momentum by holding the ball before breaking ahead for a second time to lead 4-1 with another cross-court winner after a tense game that left the Spaniard no chance.
Nadal showed his never-say-die spirit by demanding a comeback in the sixth game, converting his third break point to provide hope that grew as he cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Spaniard withstood a break point to win back-to-back matches for the first time in the match, giving everything his final match had to prove.
Van de Zandschulp held on to finish the eighth game with two brilliant aces and remained to serve for the match after Nadal followed suit. Nadal gave up match point for a long time, and then hit the net and brought victory to his Dutch opponent.
World number three Carlos Alcaraz will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor on the second rubber to try to keep Spain’s Davis Cup dream alive and extend Nadal’s farewell.
The winner will face Germany or Canada in the semi-finals.
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