Spain is eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup: the point won by the Dutch double team made up of Van De Zandschulp and Koolhof is decisive. Nadal’s career ends in a painful defeat
And double pain for Spain who hoped to win the Davis Cup in Malagain front of his fans, in his last days as a professional tennis player Rafael Nadal. And instead the story took a completely different turn. Celebrating on the Spanish green concrete is the Netherlands who wins 2-1 after a real marathon and makes the home fans cry.
Spain: Alcaraz is not enough
A great test wasn’t enough Carlos Alcaraz to Spain to be able to bring home the two points she needed to advance in the Davis Cup. After Nadal’s defeat, everything went into the hands of Carlos Alcaraz who did his duty against Tallon Griekspoor by winning in two sets and bringing the match back to a draw. Everything is decided with doubles with Spain fielding doubles player Granollers alongside Carlitos. On the other side of the net are De Zandschulp and Koolhof who play a very concrete match and manage to win in two sets, both in tiebreaks.
Nadal: the last one turns into a disappointment
Spain’s day began with a somewhat surprising decision from the captain Ferrer who chose to field Rafa Nadal as the first singles player. It could be Rafa’s last and the crowd is as hot as ever but despite Malaga’s push to get the upper hand it is Van De Zandschulp who wins in straight sets. And Nadal himself admitted at the end of the match that, regardless of the team’s score, it could have been his last match: “If I were Ferrer, I wouldn’t let myself be played in the semi-final”, said the champion from Manacor.
Rafa’s last words
At the end of the match we cry but not so much for the defeat but for the farewell is paid to Rafael Nadal: “Thanks to all of you – says Rafa in his farewell speech – It’s been a 20-year career in which I’ve always had your support. I have been able to live with all of you not only in Spain and I have always felt lucky to feel the affection from all over the world. I thank the Spanish team for allowing me to experience this illusion but it didn’t go as we would have liked but I gave everything I had. This is my last day as a professional and having been part of the Spanish team has been a great privilege. Now it’s your turn to continue. Nobody would want to get to this moment, I’m not tired of playing but my body is. I hope I can continue to be a good ambassador for tennis“.
Koolhof: farewell party postponed
It was the last game of Rafa Nadalit could have been the last of Wesley Koolhof. Of course the status and the difference between the careers of the two players could not be further apart but the Dutch player is one of the most respected on the circuit especially for what he managed to achieve as a doubles player. But Wesley may not have played his last match yet with the Netherlands now waiting for a match between Canada and Germany in the semi-finals.
Davis Cup: the complete draw
Source: sport.virgilio.it
