Rafael Nadal said he struggled to manage his emotions as he lost 6-4 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup in what may have been the last match of his great career.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion is retiring from professional tennis after the team event in Malaga, and Nadal could play again after Carlos Alcaraz beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 6-3 in the other singles to tie the match up.
Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers are scheduled to play in the deciding doubles match against van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof. Win that and Spain would play again in Friday’s semi-final – though Nadal said he would not pick himself to play again considering his performance against van de Zandschulp.
“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.
“I knew it could be my last match as a professional and the emotions were difficult to manage.
"I did it for Rafa" 🥹#DavisCup | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/jpEZ8xe2RI
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 19, 2024
“I wasn’t able to read the game quickly enough to feel in control. When you’ve spent so much time out of competition, everything is decided by small details and I’m not in the same form as players who are on the circuit. Today won’t be the day for me to criticize myself.”
The 38-year-old Nadal had won 29 Davis Cup singles matches in a row before his straight set defeat and last played at the Olympics in August.
“It’s in some ways good, maybe, if that was my last match,” Nadal said. “I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one. So we close the circle.
“Hopefully we can keep going and I will keep working hard every day to be on the team in case the team needs me one more time. If not, just support from the bench.
“I tried to do my best. I tried to, at the same time, to stay as positive as possible in every single moment, to play with the right energy. It was not enough. Congrats to Botic. That’s all. He was better than me.”
Nadal helped Spain win the Davis Cup in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019.
