MALAGA, Spain — Rafael Nadal’s professional tennis career is over, his final match a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands

Rafael Nadal retires from tennis at Davis Cup after Spain lose to Netherlands

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2024-11-20 00:00:04

MALAGA, Spain — Rafael Nadal’s professional tennis career is over, his final match a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands at the Davis Cup.

That defeat, coupled with Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers losing the doubles rubber 7-6(4), 7-6(3) to Wesley Koolhof and Van de Zandschulp, saw Spain eliminated from the Davis Cup and with it came the end for Nadal, one of the sport’s most successful players of all time.

Nadal had flashes of his old self during the loss to Van de Zandschulp, but they were all too brief. A couple of aces in crucial moments. A snapped backhand overhead. A scampering chase after a lob that he got back with a spinning overhead while running away from the net.

Ultimately his game proved too meek to survive a powerful, modern player like Van de Zanschulp. Strokes that once would have pelted balls through the court ended up short, allowing the Dutchman to take the initiative off Nadal’s racket.

With Nadal out it was left to Carlos Alcaraz to save him and to save Spain. Alcaraz got halfway there, winning his singles match, but then he and Marcus Granollers fell to Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof in straight sets in the doubles.