Davis Cup Final News: Rafael Nadal drops match to Botic Van De Zandschulp
By Lee Vowell
20 years from now, tennis fans will still fondly remember Rafael Nadal. He is certainly the best clay-court player ever and was always a gentleman off the court. He might have played his final match as a professional, though. He lost to Botic Van De Zandschulp to begin Spain's run at the Davis Cup Final.
Nadal did not play particularly well against the Dutchman, either. Maybe the Spaniard felt the nerves of it potentially being his last match. He made small mistakes that he does not normally do and his serve was far from perfect. Nadal has battled various injuries all of 2024, but he wouldn't have played for Spain if he didn't feel healthy, at least in singles.
Spain now needs Carlos Alcaraz to win the second match of the Netherlands versus Spain tie to force a deciding doubles match. The expectation is that Alcaraz will win, but there is no guarantee Nadal will then team up with Alcaraz. If the elder Spaniard does not believe he gives Spain the best chance to win in doubles, he won't play.
Rafael Nadal falls to Botic Van De Zandschulp in Davis Cup Final
One might wonder how fit Nadal will be for the doubles match, too. He moved fairly well against the Dutchman, but he would have to play a second time on Tuesday in doubles.
The final score of 6-4 6-4 was misleading. Van De Zandschulp was always in complete control of the match. In the past, he had trouble closing matches out, and one could assume he was nervous, too, knowing he might be putting an end to Nadal's career, but he was able to hold without getting to deuce in the final game of the second set.
If the tie does get to a deciding doubles match, Alcaraz is currently set to play with Marcel Granollers. As much as Nadal struggled with his serve - he landed less than 60 percent of his first serves - Spain might be forced to make the uncomfortable decision to not have Nadal participate in doubles. Of course, should Alcaraz win in both singles and doubles, tennis fans might have a chance to see Nadal in the next stage of the Davis Cup Final when Spain would play the winner of the Germany versus Canada tie.