Rafael Nadal’s illustrious career came to an end after his Spain team were beaten by the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-finals.
Spanish great Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, is retiring after the men’s team event in Malaga.
In front of a partisan home crowd, 38-year-old Nadal lost 6-4 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp, who stayed composed in testing conditions to put his team ahead in the best-of-three tie.
Carlos Alcaraz, who has taken over the mantle as Spain’s leading star, beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 in the second singles match to keep Nadal’s hopes of a potential farewell appearance alive.
But Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers were beaten 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3) by Dutch pair Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof in a deciding doubles match.
Nadal, who had been watching from the bench with the rest of the Spanish team, hopped onto court to console Alcaraz and Granollers.
Both looked despondent as they sat with their heads bowed, listening to the victorious Dutch players celebrating reaching the semi-finals.
The large amount of fans who remained in the 11,500-capacity arena at Palacio de Deportes were told there would shortly be a presentation to mark Nadal’s career.
While the crowd waited for Koolhof and Van de Zandschulp to conclude a post-match television interview on the court, they chanted ‘Rafa, Rafa, Rafa’ for one final time.
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