‘Probably my last match’: Nadal’s ‘emotional’ moment as retirement nears for Spanish legend
Rafael Nadal has broken down in tears before and after his final ever singles match as the Spaniard legend walked into retirement.
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The 22-time grand slam champ was beaten by Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in Wednesday morning’s opening Davis Cup singles tie between Spain and the Netherlands.
It was a cruel way for the 38-year-old to bow out with an unspectacular 6-4 6-4 loss in front of his home Malaga fans.
Further diminishing the occasion was the uncertainty that surrounded his final farewell on court with the King of Clay needing teammate Carlos Alcaraz to defeat the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor in the second singles rubber to try and keep Spain’s Davis Cup dream alive and prolong Nadal’s farewell.
No matter what the result is, Nadal says he feels he has played his final ever singles match.
After speaking with Spanish Davis Cup captain David Ferrer he also said Wednesday morning’s loss was “probably my last match”.
The sad farewell was not fitting of such a goliath of the sport.
“If I was the captain I would change me probably (if Spain reach the semi-finals), but at the end of the day it’s not my decision,” Nadal told reporters.
“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.” Nadal’s involvement in the tie was not certain, with his career ravaged by injuries in recent years, but captain David Ferrer called on the 38-year-old to open the finals for Spain before an adoring home crowd.
“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.”
Nadal appeared emotional during the Spanish national anthem before the match.
“I was having an emotional day, nerves before what could be my last singles match as a professional,” added Nadal.
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“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.”
Alcaraz took the opening set against Griekspoor 7-6.
The winner of the Davis Cup quarter final will face Germany or Canada in the semi-finals
Record 14-time French Open champion Nadal said earlier he was not in Malaga to retire but instead to try and help Spain win the Davis Cup for the first time since 2019.
Nadal had a 29-1 win-loss record in the Davis Cup, where he first appeared for Spain in 2004.
Tennis great Roger Federer hailed his former rival before the match, saying Nadal had “made Spain proud… you made the whole tennis world proud”.
– With AFP