Tennis star’s career over after Davis Cup exit

Malaga. At two minutes after midnight, Rafael Nadal’s great tennis career was over. The Spanish superstar played the last game of his impressive career at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. The 38-year-old lost his singles match against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 4:6, 4:6, marking the start of the hosts’ surprising defeat.

Carlos Alcaraz then won against Tallon Griekspoor 7:6 (7:0), 6:3. Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers then lost the final doubles match against the two Dutchmen Wesley Koolhof and van de Zandschulp 6:7 (4:7), 6:7 (3:7). All Nadal’s encouragement didn’t help. Spain is out, the career of the 22-time Grand Slam tournament winner is over.

Farewell ceremony after midnight

The organizers in Malaga were apparently not really prepared for Nadal’s end to his career that evening. It took a while before the farewell ceremony began for one of the world’s greatest athletes. In a long speech, Nadal thanked his family and many companions.

He was able to hold back tears for a long time, but when messages from old rivals like Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic and Spanish sports stars like Andrés Iniesta or Raúl appeared on the video cube, the tears flowed.

Cheering for Nadal in doubles was in vain

“I lost my first Davis Cup game and my last today too. In a way, it’s coming full circle,” Nadal had already said after his sobering singles defeat. Afterwards he was excited in the stands, first at Alcaraz and then at the doubles. The Mallorcan kept jumping up and pushing his compatriots forward.

But in the end the Dutch deservedly prevailed. The Oranje team could now meet Germany in the semi-finals. The German team will play its quarter-finals this Wednesday (12 p.m.) against Canada.

Nadal is far from top form

Nadal had previously shown a less energetic performance on Center Court. In a final show of strength, Nadal got himself into shape again for the Davis Cup Finals. But the truth on the pitch was different. Nadal moved poorly and there was no longer much of the force of days gone by.

Even the support of the audience didn’t help in the end. A mistake by Nadal ended the game. The Mallorcan then waved goodbye to the audience – forever, as was clear a few hours after the double defeat.

“It feels like this is my last professional singles,” the 38-year-old said after his sobering performance. After the performance against van de Zandschulp, it could no longer be assumed that Nadal would have been used again if Spain had progressed.

It became very clear that the 38-year-old was no longer physically able to perform at a top level after all the injuries. If he were the team leader, he would make a change if he progressed, Nadal said. As a result of the elimination, team boss David Ferrer no longer has to make a decision.

Nadal emotional before the game

Even before Nadal had even set foot on Center Court, the first shouts of “Rafa, Rafa” were echoing through the arena. There was deafening cheers when the Mallorcan was introduced; Nadal was already clearly struggling with his emotions at this point. The Spanish tennis legend’s eyes moistened when the national anthem played.

The Spanish fans continued to encourage Nadal during the game. And the long-time number one in the world could use all the support. The 38-year-old had not played an official match since his second-round exit at the Olympic Games in Paris against the Serbian Novak Djokovic. And this lack of match practice ultimately became his downfall.

RND/dpa