Key event
Griekspoor 5-4 *Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
The Dutchman saves a break point in impressive fashion to deny Alcaraz.
That’s all we have time for on today’s live blog, but thank you for reading, and see you again soon. Good night.
Tumaini Carayol’s match report, from Nadal’s defeat in the singles, is right here:
*Griekspoor 4-4 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
All square in the first set.
The following quote is being attributed to Nadal over on X: “I feel this was my last professional singles match.”
Griekspoor 4-3 *Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Well, that seems to have woken Alcaraz up. He breaks back immediately. We are back on serve. A reminder that Alcaraz has to win this match to take it to the doubles rubber.
Updated
Griekspoor* 4-2 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
It’s 0-30 for the Dutchman after a couple of narrow misses by Alcaraz. A glimmer of hope for the Netherlands of the first break of serve. And then Alcaraz double faults! 0-40. And now Alcaraz dumps a forehand into the net! Griekspoor breaks to love. Horrible game by Alcaraz. And yes, I am aware I lost our bet about Alcaraz breaking first.
Updated
Griekspoor 3-2 *Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Well, in fact, that was a much more comfortable hold for the world No 40. We are on serve in the first set. Who is going to blink first?
Griekspoor* 2-2 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Alcaraz holds to love. That was businesslike. And I bet you he’s going to break the Dutchman before too long.
Griekspoor 2-1 *Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
Again, Alcaraz makes his opponent work. There is one particularly tasty volley by the Spaniard at the net, a forehand effort that arrows into the corner and gives the Dutchman no chance. But anyway, Griekspoor eventually holds.
Griekspoor* 1-1 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
The home player hits back with a speedy hold. Griekspoor, by the way, is ranked 40 in the world. Maths has never been my strong point but I make that 37 ranking places between these two players.
Updated
Griekspoor 1-0 *Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
The Dutchman, after a pretty lengthy deuce battle, closes out the first game of the match. He was 40-15 up and looked to be winning it easily, but pesky world No 3 Alcaraz made him work for it.
Updated
Griekspoor v Alcaraz is up next.
Coming up next in Malaga 🤩
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 19, 2024
🇳🇱 @Griekii 🆚 @carlosalcaraz 🇪🇸#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/ZGRt6VPZ8H
“I stood there trying to catch the whole atmosphere,” says Barry Cowan on the Tennis Channel. “We don’t know, it might be Nadal’s last match … I think it was clear that Rafa is lacking matches and lacking fitness …
“You’re a bit damned if you do and damned if you don’t,” Cowan says of David Ferrer’s captaincy choices. “If Rafa said he wanted to play, and believed he could win, he should play.”
Updated
Hearing the Spanish anthem before the match began was clearly extremely emotional for Nadal.
Well, it would be, wouldn’t it?
An emotional anthem for @RafaelNadal 🥹#DavisCup | @RFETenis pic.twitter.com/wZNt3kmB9x
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 19, 2024
“It was a shame at the beginning, I think we were both nervous,” says the victor, Botic van de Zandschulp. “The first serves didn’t go smoothly. The crowd was tough, of course – understandable. That’s what it is to play here in Spain against Rafa, I think he’s the biggest sportsman here in Spain that ever lived. So yeah it was a really special event.
“I have to say it’s tough to close out a match against him, knowing it could be his last – or not. And yeah I felt I was hoping a little bit more, than going for it … at 4-3, 0-40, I just went for it.
“The supporters were unbelievable. I needed it. There were so many people from Spain here, cheering for him. But I understand. If I was sitting next to the court, I’d be cheering for him as well. So yeah, I needed them a lot today, I am glad they came out.”
Updated
Reaction incoming …
Thanks Taha, hi everyone.
I’ll have to leave you there, with Luke McLaughlin to handle all the reaction from Nadal’s loss.
Van de Zandschulp beats Nadal 6-4, 6-4
Van de Zandschulp goes 30-up, slides by the net to nearly make it 40-0 … but it’s just out. The server nets a volley to make it 30-30, but Nadal then puts on too much power to send the ball long. Match point. And he converts as Nadal, sliding by the baseline, finds the net. Is this the end? We don’t know just yet. The Netherlands go 1-0 up in this Davis Cup tie.
Updated
Second set: *Van de Zandschulp 6-4, 5-4 Nadal (*denotes next server)
Nadal’s serve down the middle helps him to 40-30 and he manages to hold. Now he has no choice but to break back.
Second set: Van de Zandschulp 6-4, 5-3 Nadal* (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp bounces back from 0-30 down to unleash a fierce ace down the middle before Nadal nets a return. Another ace sucks the atmosphere out of the arena, and then another ace secures the game. That’s some serious ticker from the big Dutchman.
Second set: *Van de Zandschulp 6-4, 4-3 Nadal (*denotes next server)
The decibels are up as Nadal goes 30-up but Van de Zandschulp levels after a double fault. Nadal goes long with a cross-court forehand and now there’s a chance for Van de Zandschulp to break … but Nadal’s overhead volley, pedalling back, hits the spot. Nadal manages to hold.
Updated
Nadal breaks: Van de Zandschulp 6-4, 4-2* Nadal (*denotes next server)
Nadal refuses to go gently, setting up a break point at 30-40 … but he can’t outdo Van de Zandschulp with a drop shot, and the Dutchman becomes a wall at the net to win the point. Nadal shakes his head as he goes long with a forehand, providing Van de Zandschulp the advantage. A forehand winner keeps Nadal believing … and he has another break point as Van de Zandschulp nets. He can’t convert but lands another chance … which he does take! Van de Zandschulp’s sliced backhand went wide and Nadal wants to play a little longer.
Updated
Van de Zandschulp breaks: *Van de Zandschulp 6-4, 4-1 Nadal (*denotes next server)
Nadal makes it 30-30 on his serve with an overhead smash and is up to the net again, ready to win the next point … but he sends it wide. Van de Zandschulp has a break point … but a big serve down the middle takes us to deuce. Van de Zandschulp unfurls a cross-court forehand to secure another break point … and he converts it with a passing forehand.
Updated
Second set: Van de Zandschulp 6-4, 3-1 Nadal* (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp is called for a foot fault for the second time in the match, making it 0-30. But Van de Zandschulp regains his composure, levelling up in the game by working Nadal around before killing the point with a sliced backhand volley. He doesn’t let up from there.
Updated
Second set: *Van de Zandschulp 6-4, 2-1 Nadal (*denotes next server)
Nadal makes it 30-0 but Van de Zandschulp regains his rhythm, levelling up with a smash … before Nadal whips a forehand winner. It’s time for deuce. Nadal fights on to take advantage after Van de Zandschulp goes long … but we’re back to 40-40 after Van de Zandschulp wins a 17-shot rally. Nadal has the crowd probably the loudest it’s been all evening, though, hooking from the baseline on his way to claiming the game.
Updated
Second set: Van de Zandschulp 6-4, 2-0 Nadal* (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp runs through the game rapidly. Nadal is in trouble.
Updated
Van de Zandschulp breaks: *Van de Zandschulp 6-4, 1-0 Nadal (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp opens his second-set account with a thumping forehand that Nadal can’t match before the great champion goes long, giving the Dutchman further momentum in the game. Nadal claims the next point and roars, perhaps to gee himself for the fight that awaits. And then comes the classic fist pump as he pulls off a stunning, leaping backhand volley to make it 30-30.
Van de Zandschulp takes it to deuce, his forehand return escaping the clutches of an off-balance Nadal. The advantage goes to Van de Zandschulp, opening up a chance to break. Nadal’s forehand goes wrong and Van de Zandschulp leads 1-0.
Van de Zandschulp wins the first set 6-4
Van de Zandschulp opens the game with an electric cross-court backhand winner. He races to 40-0 but a backhand down the line goes wrong to give Nadal some hope. It’s snuffed out quickly as Nadal sends a return out.
Updated
Van de Zandschulp breaks: *Van de Zandschulp 5-4 Nadal (*denotes next server)
Nadal’s serve-and-volley ploy goes wrong as Van de Zandschulp’s forehand beats him, making it 15-30. A long Nadal forehand sets up two break points for the Dutchman, and the home crowd whistles away. Van de Zandschulp misses out on the first, finding the net with a backhand after working himself into an opportunity for a winner. A lengthy rally follows, which Van de Zandschulp wins with a passing backhand.
First set: Van de Zandschulp 4-4 Nadal* (* denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp is called for a foot fault and his serving woes from the start of the match return as Nadal makes it deuce, seizing upon his opponent’s less than confident second serve. And then, out of nowhere, Van de Zandschulp finds a big first serve at the bottom of his backpack and pulls it out to take advantage. A neat bit of net play sees to a hold.
First set: *Van de Zandschulp 3-4 Nadal (*denotes next server)
Both players are beginning to get the winners going, cutting out their early rustiness. Van de Zandschulp takes advantage of an awry backhand volley from Nadal to send a forehand down the line. A perfectly placed forehand to Nadal’s left sees Van de Zandschulp make it 30-all but Nadal aces in response. We head into deuce but Nadal avoids any drama.
Updated
First set: Van de Zandschulp 3-3 Nadal* (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp delivers a couple of cross-court specials: winners with forehand and backhand. An ace secures the game.
First set: *Van de Zandschulp 2-3 Nadal (*denotes next server)
Nadal is properly animated for the first time in the match, finding some rhythm with a forehand down the line that Van de Zandschulp can’t return. He celebrates with the crowd. The Spaniard is racing up to the net, having located an extra bit of magic in the last few rallies. He holds.
First set: Van de Zandschulp 2-2 Nadal* (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp recovers from his serving nightmare to fire down a couple of aces, running through the game quickly.
“Feeling sad more than anything, but the crowd is lifting me,” writes Carrie Ilbrey. “A fitting goodbye and thank you.”
First set: *Van de Zandschulp 1-2 Nadal (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp gets Nadal twisting and turning, levelling things up at 15-15. Nadal continues to shape up for that trademark forehand whip, but the venom of old isn’t there as he nets to make it 15-30. Nadal recovers and races to the net to force a backhand lob from Van de Zandschulp which goes wide, and the game is secured with a Dutch backhand into the net.
First set: Van de Zandschulp 1-1 Nadal* (*denotes next server)
Van de Zandschulp renders Nadal shotless with a forceful backhand before Nadal tries a classic forehand down the line … it’s out. The Dutchman goes 40-0 up … but then double-faults twice! Another first serve goes wrong and then he nets to make it deuce! He nets again with his first serve before finally landing one, prompting a lengthy rally – Nadal goes long to give Van de Zandschulp advantage. Nadal nets a return and the mini-crisis is halted.
First set: *Van de Zandschulp 0-1 Nadal (* denotes next server)
It’s Nadal to serve first but it’s Van de Zandschulp who immediately looks the part, advancing to the net to nail his backhand volley for the first point. Nadal levels up but Van de Zandschulp’s deep forehand sees the Spaniard find the net. Nadal has the crowd, though, and pumps the fists when making it 40-30. A smash by the net secures the game and eases the nerves, if there are any.
Right then, we’re pretty close to the start. Van de Zandschulp has played Nadal twice and lost both, but that was back in 2022 at Wimbledon and the French Open. The crowd is roaring for Nadal, even through the warm-ups. Looks the place to be right now.
Van de Zandschulp ruined another Spaniard’s party earlier this year, dumping Carlos Alcaraz out of the US Open in the second round.
Oh, and here’s a rather decent stat: Nadal hasn’t lost a singles match in the Davis Cup since February 2004. Fancy guessing who beat him?
And here’s Tumaini Carayol reporting on Nadal’s pre-match press conference, which had to be done at a hotel rather than the Palacio de Deportes because of the inevitable media frenzy.
“You made me reimagine my game – even going so far as to change the size of my racket head, hoping for any edge. And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.”
It really is quite fascinating how much time these two have for one another.
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to the grand farewell. That headband and vest, those whipping forehands, a thirst for clay, the battle with the other two, and, yes, 22 grand slams. It’s time to say goodbye.
The Davis Cup finals mark the last act of Rafael Nadal’s storied career, with Spain taking on the Netherlands in the quarter-finals in Malaga. The action gets underway at 4pm GMT, with Spain also in possession of the world No 3, Carlos Alcaraz.
Each tie has two singles matches – best of three sets – and, if required, a decider in the doubles. After the wait to see whether Nadal would feature in the singles or doubles … we have our answer: he’s going one-on-one with world No 80 Botic van de Zandschulp.
Send in all your thoughts, queries, favourite Nadal memories, retirement advice, whatever you fancy.
THIS. IS. NOT. A. DRILL 🔥
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 19, 2024
Rafael Nadal will face Botic van de Zandschulp in the opening match between Spain and Netherlands!#DavisCup #GraciasRafa pic.twitter.com/n7LXDSdehA
