Davis Cup LIVE: Rafael Nadal beaten in potential farewell as Spain take on Netherlands
The hosts fell behind in their quarter-final after Nadal was beaten in straight sets by Botic van de Zandschulp
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Your support makes all the difference.Rafael Nadal suffered defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp in potentially his final match as a professional as the Nertherlands went 1-0 up against Spain in their Davis Cup quarter-final.
Nadal will retire at the end of the hosts’ participation in the event and now faces an anxious wait to see if his illustrious career will be extended by another few days. There were glimpses of the 38-year-old’s remarkable talent in his 6-4, 6-4 defeat, but the Spaniard was unable to match Van de Zandschulp consistently enough to capitalise on a few serving woes from the Dutchman in front of a passionate crowd in Malaga.
It means that the 22-time grand slam champion is reliant upon Carlos Alcaraz beating Tallon Griekspoor in the second singles rubber to have hope of featuring again on court in a semi-final against Germany or Canada on Friday. Should Alcaraz win, he will team up with Marcel Granollers in a deciding doubles encounter with the impressive Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof, who is also playing the final competition of his career.
Re-live all of the action from Nadal’s potential farewell in our live blog below:
Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Plenty of tennis luminaries on site, as one would expect. Rafael Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya and Carlos Alcaraz each watch on with a little nervous energy, the past, present and future of Spanish tennis blending together.
Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp
A mighty roar from a pretty much capacity crowd as the two players warm up. Rafael Nadal is 2-0 against his Dutch opponent, but Botic van de Zandschulp has enjoyed a strong year - that stunning win over Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open was a particular highlight, of course.
Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp
The players are out on court in Malaga, with Spain captain David Ferrer giving a few final words of encouragement to his retiring icon. It must be a strange situation for Ferrer to manage, this.
Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp
Rafael Nadal, incidentally, has lost just once in 30 previous Davis Cup singles matches. How will the veteran’s body hold up today having played so sparingly over the last few years?
Spain vs Netherlands matches in full
It will just be an outing in singles for Rafael Nadal today, though Carlos Alcaraz is primed to double up - he plays Tallon Griekspoor in his individual rubber, and then will partner Marcel Granollers if required.
Quarter final schedule: Spain vs Netherlands
From 4pm GMT
Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp
after 15 minutes
Carlos Alcaraz vs Tallon Griekspoor
after 30 minutes
Carlos Alcaraz/Marcel Granollers vs Wesley Koolhof/Botic van de Zandschulp
Roger Federer pens emotional letter to Rafael Nadal ahead of final tournament
Roger Federer has penned an emotional letter online to his great rival and friend Rafael Nadal ahead of the Spaniard’s retirement from tennis.
Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slams compared to Federer’s 20, will hang up his racket after representing Spain at this week’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Federer retired in 2022, playing doubles alongside Nadal in his final match at the Laver Cup in London, and the Swiss maestro paid tribute to 38-year-old Nadal and his “epic career” in a post on social media.
Roger Federer pens emotional letter to Rafael Nadal ahead of final tournament
Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slams. will retire after this week’s Davis Cup Finals in Malaga
Davis Cup finals schedule
Here’s what the schedule looks like over the next few days:
Quarter-finals
Tuesday 19 November: Spain vs Netherlands - from 4pm BST
Wednesday 20 November: Germany vs Canada - from 11am BST
Thursday 21 November: USA vs Australia - from 9am BST
Thursday 21 November: Italy vs Argentina - not before 4pm BST
Semi-finals
Friday 22 November: Spain/Netherlands vs Germany/Canada - from 4pm BST
Saturday 23 November: USA/Australia vs Italy/Argentina - from 12pm BST
Final
Sunday 24 November: TBC vs TBC - from 3pm BST
BREAKING - Rafael Nadal to play opening Davis Cup rubber
It’s now official. Rafael Nadal will be playing in the first singles match for Spain this afternoon, against Botic van de Zandschulp.
That starts at 4pm BST and will be box office, as Nadal plays what could be his final match of professional tennis. Not to be missed
Rafael Nadal was more than a genius with a racket - his eccentric style made him an icon
From the sleeveless teenage superstar who was virtually unbeatable for three months every spring to the all-court genius who defied the limits of his body to conquer the lot, it’s been quite the ride for Rafael Nadal in professional tennis.
A formal farewell – beyond the ‘will he, won’t he?’ of the summer – has been in the pipeline for some time. Last month, aged 38, Nadal confirmed that he will call time on his astonishing career at the end of the season, acknowledging “a difficult last two years” playing “with limitations.”
Nadal was more than a genius with a racket - his eccentric style made him an icon
The 22-time Grand Slam champion announced that he will retire after the Davis Cup Finals next month
A look at Rafael Nadal's 22 Grand Slam titles as he prepares to retire after the Davis Cup
Rafael Nadal showed up at the French Open for the first time as a teenager in 2005 and left as the champion. He won it for the final time in 2022 at age 36 — his last major championship anywhere.
Fittingly, his bookend Grand Slam titles came at Roland Garros, and it’s impossible to discuss Nadal’s career without mentioning that site. Still, it’s also important to remember that he completed a career Grand Slam, earning at least two trophies at each of his sport’s four most prestigious tournaments.
As Nadal, now 38, gets set to head into retirement after the Davis Cup Final 8 — which begins Tuesday with his country, Spain, facing the Netherlands — here is a look at his 22 major triumphs, starting with the most recent:
A look at Rafael Nadal's 22 Grand Slam titles as he prepares to retire after the Davis Cup
Rafael Nadal will head into retirement after this week's Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga, Spain
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