Malaga (Spain), Nov 20 || Rafael Nadal started the final tournament of his farewell season with a defeat in a quarterfinal match against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup finals here on Tuesday. Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam winner, opened Spain's campaign against the Netherlands with a 4-6, 4-6 defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp.
Van de Zandschulp smashed eight aces to two by Nadal. Though he also served seven double faults compared to two by Nadal, the Dutch star won 77% points on the first serve compared to 67% by the Spanish legend.
By winning this match, Botic van de Zandschulp put Netherlands 1-0 ahead in their quarterfinal tie against Spain. Unfazed by the magnitude of the occasion, The 29-year-old delivered a blow to Nadal’s hopes of drawing the curtain on his professional career with a sixth Davis Cup crown.
The weight of keeping Spain going in this event rests on the shoulders of the current World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who will aim to level the tie when he takes on Tallon Griekspoor in the second singles match of the rubber. If Alcaraz is successful, Wesley Koolhof, who is also retiring from the sport at the end of the event, will partner Van de Zandschulp in a rubber decision against Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers. The winner of the tie will face either Germany or Canada in the semifinals on Friday.
Alcaraz has said that he would like to win the Davis Cup title for Nadal, who is retiring from tennis.