Rafa Nadal retires: Spanish tennis icon’s final match is Davis Cup loss vs Netherlands

Spaniard suffered a straight sets defeat against Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschul in final professional outing

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Rafael Nadal greets spectators after losing his match against Botic Van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup quarterfinal. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:17am, 20 Nov 2024Updated: 7:43am, 20 Nov 2024

Rafael Nadal’s last match as a professional was a 6-4, 6-4 loss to No 80 Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup as Spain were eliminated by the Netherlands.

Spain lost 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the team event that marked the last tournament for Nadal after more than 20 years on tour and 22 grand slam titles.

Carlos Alcaraz had extended Nadal’s career for a little longer by defeating No 40 Tallon Griekspoor 7-6, 6-3 in the second singles match, but Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers then lost the decisive doubles 7-6, 7-6 to Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof.

The Dutch will play in Friday’s semi-finals against either Germany or Canada.

It was unclear whether Nadal would have played another match even if Spain had advanced, as he said after his loss that if he was Spain captain David Ferrer he would not pick himself to play again in the semi-finals.

Rafael Nadal greets Botic van de Zandschulp at the end of the quarter-final match at the Davis Cup. Photo: AFP

“Probably the easy move and maybe the right move is to change,” Nadal said. “I mean, if I would be the captain, probably I will change, I don’t put myself the next day. If we go through, that’s my feeling.”