Rafael Nadal's Remarkable Career Ends As Netherlands Defeat Spain In Davis Cup

Rafael Nadal's illustrious professional tennis career ended on Tuesday when the Netherlands defeated Spain in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup. The 38-year-old Spaniard, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, lost the first rubber in singles. Carlos Alcaraz then won the second match, forcing a doubles final, which the Dutch won 2-1. Alcaraz defeated Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (7/0), 6-3 after Botic van de Zandschulp defeated Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4 in the first singles match.  In the deciding doubles rubber, Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof secured a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) victory to set up a semi-final clash with Canada or Germany.

Uncertainty surrounded Nadal's participation in the match after years marred by injuries and his absence from an official singles match since July. They were settled when captain David Ferrer declared he would participate in the opening finals match's first singles rubber.

Nadal appeared emotional during the Spanish national anthem, and over 10,000 fans filled the arena with chants of "Rafa, Rafa," when it ended.

"I was having an emotional day, nerves before what could be my last singles match as a professional," said Nadal.

"The emotions hearing the national anthem for the last time as a professional were very special."

Since making his tournament debut in 2004, Rafael Nadal has won 29 of his last 30 Davis Cup singles matches. Nadal gave it his all in the second set, helped along by tremendous home support, but he was unable to win.

"In the beginning I think we were both nervous... the crowd was tough, understandably," said Van de Zandschulp.

"That is what it is to play against Rafa in Spain -- he is probably the biggest sportsman here in Spain that ever lived."

With his weakened body, Nadal, who is ranked 154th in the world, tried to keep points short by using big serves and sporadic bursts of his deadly forehand, which were followed by the traditional pump and roar of the fist. 

World number 80 Van de Zandschulp sought to put Nadal on his backhand and the indoor hard-court tournament was far from an ideal surface for the record 14-time Roland Garros winning 'King of Clay'.

In order to dampen Spanish spirits, the Dutchman converted his second set point after opening up two break points at 4-4 and taking the second with a brilliant cross-court winner.

In the second set, Nadal rallied from a 0-30 deficit but was unable to turn it into a hold. The Spaniard went long, consolidating to increase the pressure, and his opponent won the first break.

In the third game, Nadal, who was down a set and a break, survived intense pressure on his serve for a nervy hold that resulted in the night's loudest roar.

Nadal demonstrated his never-say-die attitude by regaining the break in the sixth game after Van de Zandschulp broke for the second time to take a 4-1 lead. In what might be his final match, he gave it his all and consolidated, surviving a break point to win back-to-back games for the first time. Nadal, however, went long to give up match point in the tenth and final game before hitting a shot into the net to give his Dutch opponent the win.

"I'm not in the rhythm of competition," admitted Nadal.

"I've been self-critical enough with myself to improve, even when I've won -- today I will not be tough on myself, this was all I had."

With a solid showing in the second rubber, Alcaraz preserved Rafael Nadal's hopes of winning the Davis Cup one last time.

"I did it for Rafa," Alcaraz admitted after winning his singles match to force a doubles decider.

Griekspoor gave up after Alcaraz won all seven points in a first-set tie-break. The world number 40 was unable to put pressure on Alcaraz's serve and the Spaniard sealed the straight sets win to love in the ninth game. He and Granollers lost badly at the net in the opening set of the doubles match against Koolhof, 35, who will also retire after the Davis Cup.

In the second set, Spain used their third break point to pull even after falling behind 2-1, but the Dutch rallied at 4-4 with a cross-court winner from Van de Zandschulp.

Another tie-break ensued and the Dutch edged it again to bring the curtain down on Nadal's sensational career.

Cover Credits - Tennis.com