Rafael Nadal has spoken out for the first time after his tearful Davis Cup send-off. The 22-time Grand Slam champion officially retired after Spain lost their quarter-final tie at the team tournament.
After arriving back home in Mallorca, Nadal made a sad admission as he explained how his last tournament didn’t go as he’d hoped.
Nadal played his last ever professional tennis match on Tuesday as Spain faced the Netherlands at the Davis Cup Finals. He had a 29-1 record at the team competition, losing his first match before going on a record winning streak.
But that run came to an end when he faced Botic van de Zandschulp, losing 6-4 6-4. Spain were kept alive in the tie when Carlos Alcaraz won his singles rubber but they lost in the doubles, immediately sending Nadal into retirement.
The former world No. 1 was honoured with a retirement ceremony where he addressed the crowd before watching a special tribute video that left him in tears.
Nadal has since arrived home in Mallorca after hanging up his racket, where he admitted there was one downside to his farewell.
“I’ve already put an end to my professional career, so I’m retired,” the 38-year-told TVE. “The Davis Cup is always a nice experience, I’ve enjoyed it.”
While he enjoyed the team environment, Nadal confessed that the result wasn’t what he wanted for his last dance. And he’s now trying to get used to life as a retired tennis player.
He added: “In the end, the result wasn’t what we would have liked, but that’s sport. My life is changing radically. I’m accepting everything as normal and a different life than what it has been like over the last 30 years.”
While Nadal was disappointed that Spain couldn’t go further at the Davis Cup Finals, he jokingly accepted defeat in the final match of his career.
After losing to Van de Zandschulp, he said: “It’s in some ways good maybe if that was probably my last match, nothing happens. I lost my first match in the Davis Cup, and I lost my last one. So we close the circle.”
Had Spain advanced to the semi-final and beyond, that match likely would’ve been Nadal’s last no matter what. Before they lost in the doubles, the 92-time title winner said the captain shouldn’t pick him to play again.
“If I were the captain, probably I would change, I don’t put myself out the next day. If we go through, that’s my feeling. But at the end, it is not my decision, and I’m sure that he will make the best decision possible for the team,” he explained.
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