I tried to do my best – Rafael Nadal bows out after Spain defeat

Rafael Nadal soaked successful the emotion of a memorable but bittersweet evening successful Malaga arsenic his master profession came to an end.

The 38-year-old opted to make the Davis Cup Finals his past arena having accepted past period that his assemblage would nary longer let him to compete astatine the highest level.

He was hoping for 1 last triumph connected location ungraded but Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp spoiled the statement pinch a 6-4 6-4 victory, and Spain’s quarter-final elimination was confirmed aft Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers successful the deciding doubles.

The Spanish fans, immoderate of whom had paid seven-figure sums for tickets, flocked to the Martin Carpena Arena successful their thousands, draped successful reddish and yellowish flags and scarves and fresh to cheer connected their nationalist leader 1 much time.

Nadal said astatine a property convention connected Monday that he wanted to time off the emotion for erstwhile the extremity came, pinch his attraction connected trying to triumph Spain a sixth Davis Cup title during his agelong and historical career, but location were tears successful his eyes during a stirring rendition of the nationalist anthem.

“Of people it has been an affectional day, nerves earlier what tin beryllium my past singles match,” he said.

“Feeling the nationalist anthem for the past clip for illustration a master has been very special. And past of people a small spot of mixed feelings makes things a small spot much difficult.

“But that’s it. We went connected court. We unrecorded that moment. I tried to do my best. I tried to, astatine the aforesaid time, enactment arsenic affirmative arsenic imaginable successful each azygous moment, to play pinch the correct energy. It was not enough. Congrats to Botic. That’s all. He was amended than me.”

It was only Nadal’s 2nd ever Davis Cup nonaccomplishment successful singles, pinch the different coming connected his debut against Czech Republic’s Jiri Novak measurement backmost successful 2004.

It was later the aforesaid twelvemonth that Nadal sent waves done the athletics by beating Andy Roddick successful the last arsenic an 18-year-old, 1 of 29 consecutive singles victories until now.

Nadal backed skipper David Ferrer’s determination to prime him up of higher-ranked Roberto Bautista Agut but insisted location was nary unit to do so.

“Of people it hasn’t been an easy determination for the captain,” said Nadal. “But astatine the extremity I really judge that David put connected the section the subordinate who he feels that had the amended chance to win.

“Because I springiness him, since the beginning, the input that he doesn’t request to consciousness immoderate unit to put me, honestly, and I was not judge to play. I moreover springiness him much chances to put Roberto connected the section than maine during the full week.

“Probably watching that today, the determination to put maine connected the tribunal arsenic 2nd subordinate didn’t work.”

He admitted he was expecting to beryllium dropped if Spain progressed, and added pinch a smile: “It’s successful immoderate ways bully possibly if that was my past match. I mislaid my first lucifer successful the Davis Cup, and I mislaid my past one. So we adjacent the circle.”

This was conscionable Nadal’s eighth charismatic tourney this season, while his only singles matches since the Olympics successful July came successful an accumulation arena successful Saudi Arabia past month.

There were glimpses of the aged Nadal successful immoderate full-blooded forehands, pinch fist pumps and roars greeting each constituent won.

But Van de Zandschulp is simply a value subordinate and, though Nadal made it tight aft trailing 4-1 successful the 2nd set, he could not rather conjure the aged magic.

After shaking hands pinch his opponent, Nadal waved and blew kisses to his adoring crowd, not knowing it would beryllium for the past time.

Alcaraz gave Spain dream pinch a 7-6 (0) 6-3 triumph complete Tallon Griekspoor, saying afterwards the triumph was for Nadal, who was cheering him connected from the sidelines.

But Alcaraz was incapable to complete the occupation arsenic he and Granollers were edged retired 7-6 (4) 7-5 by Van de Zandschulp and Koolhof – who does prolong his profession – successful a tense last doubles.