Gracias, Rafa! Nadal Ends Storied Career With Loss At Davis Cup Final 8

Rafael Nadal, Davis Cup
Rafael Nadal (photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images for ITF)

MALAGA/WASHINGTON, November 20, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest champions in any sport – a 22-time major champion and winner of 14 Roland-Garros titles – called it a career at the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, Spain, Tuesday. The 38-year-old Mallorcan yelled his last “vamos” for all of his faithful fans to hear and appreciate during his final singles match. There were plenty of emotions spilled on and off the court throughout Spain’s quarterfinal tie with the Netherlands, which it lost 2-1.

Sure, there was plenty of joy, thanks to Nadal’s surprise appearance in the opening singles match. However, throughout the late afternoon, and into the evening and night, there were plenty of tears shed, too. It began when Nadal was visibly moved with tears welling up in his eyes as he stood alongside with his Spanish Davis Cup teammates for Spain’s national anthem, “Marcha Real.”

By midnight, when the former World No. 1 (now ranked No. 154) was feted with a retirement ceremony on court, there wasn’t a dry eye left among the sold-out crowd that filled Martin Carpena Arena, which included ITF President David Haggerty, Nadal’s entire family, plus a royalty of past Spanish greats such as Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Feliciano Lopez and current Spanish team captain David Ferrer – whose own careers intersected with Nadal’s.

Unfortunately, Nadal hadn’t played a competitive match since losing to Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics last July – and, at times, it showed. In the end, he wasn’t able to overcome 80th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, who beat Nadal, 6-4, 6-4, in an hour and 52 minutes. It wasn’t for a lack of effort or desire by the King of Clay, who was chasing after his sixth Davis Cup title with Spain.

Throughout, the electricity of the crowd cheering “Rafa, Rafa” could be felt by both players. It boosted Nadal’s spirit and created trouble for van de Zandschulp, until he became acclimated to the highly-emotional atmosphere. Still, there were moments of the Nadal of old for everyone to appreciate, in which he showed plenty of grit and determination as he rallied in the second set.

By the end, Van de Zandschulp had hit eight aces and accumulated 19 additional winners. He broke Nadal three times in six opportunities and outpointed him 72-63. The loss ended Nadal’s 29-match winning streak at the Davis Cup.

“In the beginning, I think we were both nervous,” van de Zandschulp said during an on-court interview after defeating Nadal. “The first set didn’t go too smoothly, the crowd was tough, understandably. That’s what it’s like to play in Spain against Rafa. He’s the biggest sportsman that [has] ever lived here in Spain. It was a really special event.

“It’s tough to close out a match against him, knowing that it could be his last or not. I was hoping more than going for it, but in the end, I just went for it and that helped.”

During his post-match news conference, Nadal admitted that it had been an emotional day for him. “I knew it could be my last match as a professional tennis player,” he said. “The moments leading up to it were emotional, kind of difficult to handle, in general. So many emotions. I tried to do it as well as possible. …

“I tried to have the best attitude possible, with the necessary energy whatever the result. There was a glimmer of hope at the end, but it wasn’t meant to be. My opponent was better than me today and that’s that.”

The Spanish legend managed to find a touch of humor despite the final score – even on a day filled with so many emotions. “It’s in some ways good, maybe, if that was my last match. I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one. So we close the circle,” he said, smiling.

Nadal finished his Davis Cup singles career with a 29-2 win-loss record. His 29 victories was third-most by a Spanish player, behind Manuel Santana (69) and Manuel Orantes (39).

Later, World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz downed No. 40 Tallon Griekspoor, 7-6 (0), 6-3, in one hour and 25 minutes to level the tie at 1-1. The 21-year-old Spaniard powered his way to victory by hitting 11 aces and won all but one of his first-serve points. He outpointed his Dutch opponent 69-46.

Afterward, during a brief on-court interview before leaving to get ready for the decisive doubles point, Alcaraz said: “It’s an emotional day, but once you step on the court you have to forget everything and show your best tennis.

“It’s the Davis Cup, it’s a really important tournament for me, I think for everyone. I try to play my best tennis, get the win, and give Spain the chance to qualify and win. I did it for Rafa.

“I started the match pretty well; it was just that one game that I lost the focus a little bit. I missed some easy forehands and let him get the break, so I had to stay there. It was just one game. I tried to stay positive. I’m really happy that I got it in two sets.”

As it happened, the Spain-Netherlands quarterfinal tie would be decided by doubles with Nadal looking on from Team Spain’s bench – and not as part of the lineup as had been speculated earlier. Each team featured a doubles specialist – Spainard Marcel Granollers (ranked World No. 4) and Dutchman Wesley Koolhof (ranked World No. 8) – complemented by the singles stars who each had won a point for their respective countries earlier, Alcaraz for Spain and van de Zandschulp for the Netherlands.

Koolhof, 35, who is also playing in his final event before retiring, and van de Zandschulp prevailed 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) in two hours and 12 minutes to clinch the 2-1 quarterfinal victory for the Netherlands. It was just the third time in nine Davis Cup ties that the Dutch had prevailed over the Spanish. The loss prevented Spain from reaching the semifinals for the first time since they won the Davis Cup title in 2019.

Tuesday’s triumph advanced the Netherlands to Friday’s semifinal round against the winner of Wednesday’s quarterfinal between Canada and Germany.

“I reached a very, very high level today, which I am very happy about,” Koolhof said afterward. “I think we, as a team, did an amazing job again. Botic told me he struggled on returns, but as long as he made it on match point, I’m happy. This was one of my best matches of the year. I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Added van de Zandschulp: “Wesley helped me a lot there, he returned unbelievably. He played amazingly; it’s a shame he is going to retire after this event. We could use him next year. It’s been an incredible day.”

Looking back on his final day as a pro, Nadal, a 92-time champion on the ATP Tour, reflected: “I tried, it wasn’t to be. In the end, you can’t control your level, just your attitude, your energy, and your determination. That didn’t let me down. I simply wasn’t able to do what was required to get Spain a point.”

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