Rafael Nadal suffered a 6-4, 6-4 defeat against Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup, a match that could mark the end of the Spaniard's illustrious career. The 22-time Grand Slam champion announced his retirement from professional tennis following the team event in Malaga. If Spain fails to win the second singles match against the Netherlands, Nadal will not have another opportunity to compete.
In the upcoming singles match, third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz is set to face No. 40 Tallon Griekspoor. Should the series remain tied, Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers will team up for Spain against van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof in the deciding doubles match.
If Spain manages to overcome the Dutch team, they will advance to the semifinals scheduled for Friday.
Nadal, aged 38, had an impressive record of 29 consecutive Davis Cup singles victories. However, he had not played an official match in over three months and held a 12-7 singles record in 2024. His last competitive appearance was at the Paris Olympics in August, where he was defeated by his long-time rival Novak Djokovic in the second round.
Despite putting up a valiant effort against van de Zandschulp, Nadal faced crucial breaks in both sets and was unable to regain control of the match on the indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in southern Spain.
Prior to the tournament, Nadal expressed his willingness to skip singles matches if he did not feel adequately prepared. He emphasized the importance of team decisions over personal considerations amidst the buzz surrounding his retirement.
Nadal played a pivotal role in Spain's Davis Cup victories in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2019, leaving an indelible mark on the prestigious competition.
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