An emotional Rafael Nadal retires
at the Davis Cup after he loses and Spain is eliminated
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 [November 20, 2024]
By HOWARD FENDRICH
MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Rafael Nadal bit his lower lip and his reddened
eyes welled with tears as he stood alongside his Davis Cup teammates
for Spain's national anthem Tuesday before what he — and everyone —
knew might be the last match of his career.
Hours after Nadal's 6-4, 6-4 loss to Botic van de Zandschulp of the
Netherlands was over, the evening did turn out to represent the
22-time Grand Slam champion's farewell to professional tennis,
because the Dutch eliminated the Spaniards in the quarterfinals just
after midnight.
And it was during an on-court, post-match ceremony to honor Nadal
that he cried and cried, at the singsong chorus of “Raaa-faaa” from
the spectators, at the video showing highlights from his more than
two decades on tour and the collection of recorded tributes from
current or former players such as his Big Three rivals Roger Federer
and Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Conchita Martinez and Andy
Murray, and stars from other sports such as golf's Sergio Garcia or
soccer's David Beckham.
“ The titles, the numbers, are there, so people probably know that,
but the way I would like to be remembered is as a good person from a
small village in Mallorca,” the 38-year-old Nadal told the
flag-waving, sign-toting crowd at the sold-out Palacio de Deportes
Jose Maria Martin Carpena. “Just a kid that followed their dreams,
worked as hard as possible. ... I have been very lucky.”
He had said beforehand that his feelings would need to be put on
hold, that this week was about attempting to claim one last trophy
for his country, not about pondering his impending retirement, which
he announced last month would come after this event.
But he acknowledged after playing that "the emotions were difficult
to manage,” and that he felt nerves out there amid the roars of an
adoring audience that mostly showed up for one player and one player
only.
After Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, was beaten on the
indoor hard court in southern Spain, he became a cheerleader for his
heir apparent, Carlos Alcaraz, who evened the matchup against the
Netherlands at 1-all by getting past Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (0), 6-3
in the other singles match. But then van de Zandschulp and Wesley
Koolhof clinched the victory for the Dutch by defeating Alcaraz and
Marcel Granollers 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3) in the deciding doubles match.
Even if Spain had managed to get past the Netherlands, Nadal said
that if he were his team's captain, he wouldn't pick himself to play
again in the semifinals after that performance against the
80th-ranked van de Zandschulp.
At least he was in a joking mood after the result put a stop to his
29-match winning streak in Davis Cup singles. The only other blemish
on his record, which stood at 29-1 entering Tuesday, came in his
2004 debut.
“I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one,”
Nadal said with a wide grin. “So we close the circle.”
When a forehand found the net to close his last match, Nadal walked
to the net for a quick hug with his opponent.
“That was a tough, tough match to play,” said van de Zandschulp,
noting that he idolized Nadal while growing up.
In certain ways, this was, unmistakably, the Nadal that van de
Zandschulp — and so many others — can remember. The white headband,
marked with the red bull logo Nadal made famous. The white tape
wrapped around all four of his left, racket-holding fingers. The
water bottles by his sideline bench, placed just so.
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Spain's Rafael Nadal during a tribute after playing his last match
as a professional tennis player in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at
the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, on early
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
There was the occasional ace right on a line. The
occasional serve-and-volley foray. The occasional over-the-shoulder
putaway. And, yes, the occasional uppercut and scream of “Vamos!”
There also were — neither to Nadal’s or most of the 9,200
spectators’ liking — several points where he looked like a
once-dominant figure diminished by age and injuries.
Nadal was just not able to bring his best, no matter how many chants
of “Ra-fa!” or “España!” or “Si, se puede!” (“Yes, you can!”) broke
out, no matter how many scarves reading “Gracias, Rafa!” or
red-and-yellow Spanish flags of all sizes filled the arena.
This version of Nadal had hip issues, including surgery in June
2023, and abdominal problems that combined to limit him to only 24
matches over the past two years. He went 12-8 in singles in 2024.
The match against van de Zandschulp — who upset Alcaraz at the U.S.
Open — was Nadal’s first outing that counted since early August at
the Paris Olympics. He lost there in the second round of singles to
Djokovic and bowed out in the doubles quarterfinals alongside
Alcaraz.
Nadal and Alcaraz practiced with each other hours before the start
of play. The day, much like the entire Davis Cup leadup, was largely
about memories of, and praise for, Nadal.
“You know very well what you have meant to the tennis world,” said
Spain's captain, David Ferrer, who lost to Nadal in the 2013 French
Open final. “We will miss you a lot.”
Nadal’s appeal was found in how he played tennis, relentless and
striking each shot as if it might be his last, and the humility he
displayed away from competition. No one cared for him as much as his
fellow Spaniards. He is a national hero, transcending sports, and
that was clear from the love expressed over and over via shouts and
standing ovations — when Nadal entered the court, when he won a
point, when his match ended, and so on.
“When we heard the news that Rafa was retiring, this really became
something special — a chance to see the greatest sportsman in the
country’s history,” said Luis Julve, a 19-year-old college student
who made the trip from Madrid with his mother and aunt.
When the matches, the ceremony, the night and his career were over,
Nadal hugged his teammates and left the court, pausing to wave
goodbye to his fans one last time.
“The truth is that nobody ever wants to arrive at this moment,”
Nadal said. “I’m not tired of playing tennis, but it’s my body that
doesn’t want to play anymore, so I have to accept the situation.
Honestly, I feel super privileged for having been able to make a
career out of my hobby, and for having played for much longer than I
could ever have imagined."
___
AP Sports Writer Tales Azzoni contributed to this report.
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