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Rafael Nadal (PC: Tennis Channel, X)
Retiring tennis superstar Rafael Nadal lost 6-4, 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp in a Davis Cup quarter-final singles match on Tuesday, giving the Netherlands a 1-0 lead over Spain.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner will retire from professional tennis after Spain’s participation in the tournament in Malaga, following two injury-ravaged years.
Doubts had surrounded Nadal’s involvement until team captain David Ferrer confirmed he would play in the first singles rubber of the opening finals clash.
The 38-year-old appeared emotional during the Spanish national anthem, with fans filling the arena with chants of “Rafa, Rafa” when it ended.
Nadal had won 29 of his last 30 Davis Cup singles matches since his debut in 2004, including both of his previous encounters with the Dutchman.
Any initial nerves were settled when Nadal held serve in the first game, coming back from 15-30 down.
World number 80 Van de Zandschulp double-faulted three times in his first service game at 40-love up, but managed to steady himself.
With his diminished physical condition in mind, Nadal, ranked 154th in the world, attempted to keep points short, using big serves and occasional flashes of his lethal forehand, followed by classic fist pumps and roars.
Van de Zandschulp targeted Nadal’s backhand, and the Spaniard struggled to return, with the indoor hard-court surface a far from ideal setting for the record 14-time Roland Garros champion, the “King of Clay.”
The Dutchman opened up two break points at 4-4 and converted the second with a fine cross-court winner to take the lead. He then converted his second set point to dampen Spanish spirits.
Nadal fought back from 0-30 down at the start of the second set but could not hold serve, and his opponent secured the first break when Nadal went long. Van de Zandschulp then consolidated to put more pressure on Nadal.
Down a set and a break, Nadal survived heavy pressure on his serve in the third game, holding nervously to a loud roar from the crowd.
Van de Zandschulp denied Nadal the chance to gain momentum by holding serve and breaking again to take a 4-1 lead with another cross-court winner after a tense rally that left Nadal with no chance.
Nadal showed his never-say-die spirit by breaking back in the sixth game, converting his third break point to carve out a sliver of hope, which grew when he held serve to cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Spaniard survived a break point and claimed back-to-back games for the first time in the match, giving everything in what could be his final match.
Van de Zandschulp held serve, finishing the eighth game with two blistering aces. Nadal went long to concede match point, and then hit a shot into the net to hand victory to his Dutch opponent.
World number three Carlos Alcaraz will face the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor in the second rubber, hoping to keep Spain’s Davis Cup dream alive and prolong Nadal’s farewell.
The winner will face Germany or Canada in the semi-finals.
AFP
