Rafael Nadal played the final match of his legendary tennis career against The Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp.
The pair faced off twice before back in 2022, with the Spaniard winning both encounters in straight sets.
But their third meeting in the Davis Cup finals was won by the Dutch player 6-4, 6-4 as his team went on to knock Spain out of the tournament.
Van de Zandschulp is the final opponent of Nadal’s career, after the 22-time Grand Slam champion announced he would retire after the Davis Cup finals.
What did Botic van de Zandschulp notice about Rafael Nadal at the Davis Cup finals?
On Tuesday Rafael Nadal took on Botic van de Zandschulp in his first competitive singles match since the Paris Olympic Games.
Van de Zandschulp broke in the ninth game of the first set before taking the lead, and he opened up a 4-1 lead in the second set. But Nadal showed his trademark fighting spirit and claimed one of the breaks back and reduced the deficit to 4-3.
But he was also unable to break serve again for the rest of the match and Van de Zandschulp claimed a 6-4, 6-4 win. This is Nadal’s first singles loss in the Davis Cup since his debut in 2004.
Post-match the 28-year-old was asked about being the last man to defeat Nadal, and explained the differences between playing him now and back in 2022.
“I haven’t really thought about it, actually. Of course it’s been different,” he said. “I played him twice. Played him in Roland Garros, Wimbledon. I think he was a different player there maybe physically.
“I thought today he was, I won’t say struggling, but of course you see he gets older, and the injuries are taking its toll, I think. So, yeah, I haven’t really thought about being the last man to beat Rafa, but maybe I will in a couple of days.”
Botic van de Zandschulp helps end Rafael Nadal’s career at the Davis Cup finals
Van de Zandschulp was The Netherlands’ starring player against Spain in the Davis Cup quarter-finals.
Not only did he defeat Nadal in the opening singles match, but he claimed the decisive victory in the exciting doubles contest.
He teamed with veteran Wesley Koolhof to defeat Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers 7-6, 7-6 to send the Netherlands into their first Davis Cup semi-final since 2001.
This result brought down the curtain on Nadal’s magnificent career, which produced 92 titles, and four Davis Cup triumphs.
Post match Van de Zandschulp took to Instagram to pay tribute to the former World number one. “A special evening for many reasons,” he said.
“The most special reason was that it was the end of Rafael Nadal’s career as a professional tennis player. He is the player that I watched for hundreds of hours since I was a young kid who dreamed of playing on the big stages.
“I never imagined playing against him one day, especially to share this moment with a true legend. Gracias, Rafa.”
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