After 23 years on the Tour, Rafael Nadal's career is coming to its closure! Rafa fought for his country in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga against Botic van de Zandschulp and experienced a 6-4, 6-4 defeat in an hour and 52 minutes. Thus, Spain fell 1-0 behind to the Netherlands.
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Nadal played his first official match since the Olympic Games defeat to Novak Djokovic. He gave everything to prepare and score another win for his country, but his rival proved too strong. Botic defeated Rafa for the first time, losing serve once and making the difference with three breaks on his tally.
Both players struggled behind the second serve, and van de Zandschulp outplayed the legend behind the first. Nadal lacked his old pace that led him toward 92 ATP titles. He fought well but could not perform complete comeback in the second set and extend the battle.
Carlos Alcaraz and Tallon Griekspoor are battling in the second rubber, and if the Dutchman tops world no. 3, Spain will experience an early loss in front of the home fans.
Van de Zandschulp wins the opener with a late break
Two rivals served well in the opening eight games, offering no chances to the returners. Rafa held in the seventh game with a service winner and reached a deuce on the return in the next one. His fans wished for a break, but Botic kept his composure and landed a smash winner for 4-4.
The legend faced issues in the ninth game. He played against a break point and fell behind after the rival'scracking backhand crosscourt winner. Van de Zandschulp served for the set at 5-4 and fired a service winner, bringing the opener homein 46 minutes.
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Botic topples Rafa in set number two
Nadal missed a game point at the beginning of the second set and suffered another blow. The home hero lost serve, falling a set and breka behind and moving closer to the exit door. Rafa faced multiple deuces in the third game, losing edge behind the initial shot.
Still, he avoiding break points and held to reduce the deficit.Van de Zandschulp held in fourth game and made another push on the return at 3-1, eager to end the rival's resistance. Nadalmissed a volley and faced a break point, denying it and extending the game.
However, Botic generated the second andseized itwith a forehand crosscourt winner, moving 4-1 up and closer to the finish line. The crowd wanted more from their champion, and he gave them something to cheer about! Rafa stepped in on the return in the sixth game for his first break points.
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Struggling behind the initial shot, the 22-time Major winner showed another sign of weakness at 2-4. He hit double faults and faced a break point, denying it with a smash winner and holding with a powerful serve. Nadal forged a 30-0 lead in the eighth game, targeting another break.
Still, Botic fired up his initial shot and delivered a hold that pushed him 5-3 in front. Rafaserved to stay in the match in game nine and closed it with three service winners for more action. The legend needed to poush on the return in the tenth game to keep himself alive.
However, van de Zandschulp landed a service winner at 30-30 for a match point and drew Nadal's mistake, sealing the deal and sending his country in front. I my opinion, Rafa will miss the semi-final duel against Canada or Germany if Spain pass the Netherlands.
