Rafael Nadal Faces Defeat in Davis Cup as Retirement Looms

Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players in history, lost 6-4, 6-4 to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup quarter-finals. This could be his last professional match as he plans to retire after Spain’s run in the tournament ends.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been a cornerstone of Spanish tennis, helping Spain win the Davis Cup five times (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2019). However, this latest match in Malaga marked the end of Nadal’s 29-match winning streak in the competition.

Nadal, now 38, has struggled with fitness, having not played a competitive match in 113 days before Tuesday. His last official outing was at the Paris Olympics in August, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in the second round.

In the first set, Nadal fought hard but lost his serve in the crucial moments. In the second set, he was broken early and couldn’t recover. Despite playing in front of a full crowd at the Jose Maria Martin Carpena Sports Palace, the lack of match practice showed in his performance.

Nadal had previously told Spain’s captain, David Ferrer, to make the best decision for the team and not let his impending retirement influence player selection. Roberto Bautista was initially considered for the match, but Ferrer ultimately chose Nadal.

With Nadal’s loss, Spain now relies on Carlos Alcaraz to win against Tallon Griekspoor to avoid elimination. If Alcaraz secures victory, Spain will move on to the semi-finals on Friday.

As Nadal nears the end of his legendary career, his final matches will remain a testament to his incredible impact on the sport and Spanish tennis.