MALAGA, Spain — Rafael Nadal bit his decrease lip and his reddened eyes welled with tears as he stood alongside his Davis Cup teammates for Spain’s nationwide anthem Tuesday earlier than what he — and everybody — knew may be the final match of his profession.
Hours after Nadal’s 6-4, 6-4 loss to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands was over, the night did prove to symbolize the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s farewell to skilled tennis, as a result of the Dutch eradicated the Spaniards within the quarterfinals simply after midnight.
And it was throughout an on-court, post-match ceremony to honor Nadal that he cried and cried, on the singsong refrain of “Raaa-faaa” from the spectators, on the video displaying highlights from his greater than 20 years on tour and the gathering of recorded tributes from present or former gamers reminiscent of his Huge Three rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Conchita Martinez and Andy Murray, and stars from different sports activities reminiscent of golf’s Sergio Garcia or soccer’s David Beckham.
“The titles, the numbers, are there, so individuals most likely know that, however the way in which I wish to be remembered is as a very good individual from a small village in Mallorca,” the 38-year-old Nadal instructed the flag-waving, sign-toting crowd on the sold-out Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena. “Only a child that adopted their desires, labored as arduous as attainable. … I’ve been very fortunate.”
He had mentioned beforehand that his emotions would should be placed on maintain, that this week was about making an attempt to assert one final trophy for his nation, not about pondering his impending retirement, which he introduced final month would come after this occasion.
However he acknowledged after enjoying that “the feelings had been tough to handle,” and that he felt nerves on the market amid the roars of an adoring viewers that largely confirmed up for one participant and one participant solely.
After Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, was crushed on the indoor arduous court docket in southern Spain, he turned a cheerleader for his inheritor obvious, Carlos Alcaraz, who evened the matchup in opposition to the Netherlands at 1-all by getting previous Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (0), 6-3 within the different singles match. However then van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof clinched the victory for the Dutch by defeating Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) within the deciding doubles match.
Even when Spain had managed to get previous the Netherlands, Nadal mentioned that if he had been his group’s captain, he would not decide himself to play once more within the semifinals after that efficiency in opposition to the Eightieth-ranked van de Zandschulp.
Not less than he was in a joking temper after the end result put a cease to his 29-match profitable streak in Davis Cup singles. The one different blemish on his report, which stood at 29-1 coming into Tuesday, got here in his 2004 debut.
“I misplaced my first match within the Davis Cup, and I misplaced my final one,” Nadal mentioned with a large grin. “So we shut the circle.”
When a forehand discovered the online to shut his final match, Nadal walked to the online for a fast hug along with his opponent.
“That was a troublesome, robust match to play,” mentioned van de Zandschulp, noting that he idolized Nadal whereas rising up.
In sure methods, this was, unmistakably, the Nadal that van de Zandschulp — and so many others — can bear in mind. The white headband, marked with the pink bull emblem Nadal made well-known. The white tape wrapped round all 4 of his left, racket-holding fingers. The water bottles by his sideline bench, positioned simply so.
There was the occasional ace proper on a line. The occasional serve-and-volley foray. The occasional over-the-shoulder putaway. And, sure, the occasional uppercut and scream of “Vamos!” There additionally had been — neither to Nadal’s or many of the 9,200 spectators’ liking — a number of factors the place he appeared like a once-dominant determine diminished by age and accidents.
Nadal was simply not in a position to carry his finest, regardless of what number of chants of “Ra-fa!” or “España!” or “Si, se puede!” (“Sure, you may!”) broke out, regardless of what number of scarves studying “Gracias, Rafa!” or red-and-yellow Spanish flags of all sizes crammed the world.
This model of Nadal had hip points, together with surgical procedure in June 2023, and stomach issues that mixed to restrict him to solely 24 matches over the previous two years. He went 12-8 in singles in 2024.
The match in opposition to van de Zandschulp — who upset Alcaraz on the U.S. Open — was Nadal’s first outing that counted since early August on the Paris Olympics. He misplaced there within the second spherical of singles to Djokovic and bowed out within the doubles quarterfinals alongside Alcaraz.
Nadal and Alcaraz practiced with one another hours earlier than the beginning of play. The day, very similar to the complete Davis Cup leadup, was largely about recollections of, and reward for, Nadal.
“You recognize very properly what you may have meant to the tennis world,” mentioned Spain’s captain, David Ferrer, who misplaced to Nadal within the 2013 French Open ultimate. “We are going to miss you numerous.”
Nadal’s enchantment was present in how he performed tennis, relentless and placing every shot as if it may be his final, and the humility he displayed away from competitors. Nobody cared for him as a lot as his fellow Spaniards. He’s a nationwide hero, transcending sports activities, and that was clear from the love expressed time and again by way of shouts and standing ovations — when Nadal entered the court docket, when he gained some extent, when his match ended, and so forth.
“Once we heard the information that Rafa was retiring, this actually turned one thing particular — an opportunity to see the best sportsman within the nation’s historical past,” mentioned Luis Julve, a 19-year-old faculty pupil who made the journey from Madrid along with his mom and aunt.
When the matches, the ceremony, the night time and his profession had been over, Nadal hugged his teammates and left the court docket, pausing to wave goodbye to his followers one final time.
“The reality is that no one ever desires to reach at this second,” Nadal mentioned. “I’m not bored with enjoying tennis, nevertheless it’s my physique that doesn’t need to play anymore, so I’ve to simply accept the scenario. Actually, I really feel tremendous privileged for having been in a position to make a profession out of my passion, and for having performed for for much longer than I may ever have imagined.”
