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Rafa Nadal's tennis career comes to devastating end after Davis Cup call backfires brutally

Spain's decision to use Nadal in the singles against the Netherlands didn't pay off.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read

Rafa Nadal's tennis career has come to a heartbreaking end after Spain's decision to play him in the singles at the Davis Cup finals backfired brutally. The retiring legend went down 6-4 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp in the opening singles rubber, before the Netherlands completed a 2-1 victory in the deciding doubles.

Spanish captain David Ferrer had been considering playing Nadal in the doubles only, in what was the final event of the 38-year-old's storied career. But Nadal was instead deployed in the opening singles rubber as Spain took on Netherlands for a place in the semi-finals in Malaga. The gutsy call didn't pay dividends, as Nadal looked a shadow of his former self and the Dutch took a 1-0 lead in the tie.

Rafa Nadal, pictured here in the Davis Cup finals.
Rafa Nadal had his 20-year winning streak in the Davis Cup singles snapped. Image: Getty/Davis Cup

Carlos Alcaraz then got Spain level at 1-1 with a 7-6 (0) 6-3 win over Tallon Griekspoor. But he couldn't complete the victory in the doubles, with Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof beating Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers-Pujol 7-6 (4) 7-6 (3).

Nadal watched on from court-side as the doubles loss officially ended his career. Speaking earlier, he said he doubted he'd play singles again even if Spain advanced. "If I was the captain I would change me probably, but at the end of the day it's not my decision," he said.

"And I'm sure (the captain) will make the best decision possible for the team... probably that was my last match...I lost my first match at the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one, so we close the circle."

The loss ended Nadal's 29-match winning streak in Davis Cup singles, dating all the way back to 2004. His last loss in Davis Cup came on his debut against Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic, and before Tuesday night he'd won 29 in a row.

The 38-year-old has been ravaged by injuries in recent years, but Ferrer opted to use him in singles anyway. "At the end of the day he has to make decisions and he made the decision thinking what's the best for the team and not for myself, I respect that," said Nadal.

"We went on court, we lived that moment, trying to do my best, trying to stay as positive as possible, positive energy, it was not enough. Hats off to Botic, he was better than me, now it's not necessary to analyse the match any more."

Rafa Nadal and Botic van de Zandschulp after their match in the Davis Cup finals.
Rafa Nadal embraces Botic van de Zandschulp after their match in the Davis Cup finals. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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Nadal was reduced to tears as the Spanish national anthem played out around the arena. The 22-time grand slam champion revealed last month that the Davis Cup finals will be his last event before he calls it quits.

"I was having an emotional day, nerves before what could be my last singles match as a professional," he admitted. "The emotions hearing the national anthem for the last time as a professional were very special, mixed feelings makes things a little bit more difficult." Dutch captain Paul Haarhuis said beforehand: "It's amazing that it might be the last match that Nadal plays, and we hope to give him a nice 'adios.'"

with agencies