Nadal after final match: 'I'd experience it every day if I could'

It was not an easy situation to handle, even for Rafael Nadal, who has proven throughout his career that he has an extraordinary ability to manage his emotions. Before taking to the court on Tuesday, the former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings was unable to hold back the tears as he listened to his country’s anthem, knowing that it might be the last time he did so before going to battle on court.

“It’s been an emotional day,” said Nadal later after falling to a straight-sets defeat in his Davis Cup Final 8 clash with Botic van de Zandschulp. “I knew it could be my last match as a professional tennis player. The moments leading up to it were emotional, kind of difficult to handle, in general. So many emotions. I tried to do it as well as possible.”

Seeing the humour even on times like this… only Rafa ?@RafaelNadal | @DavisCup | #RafaSiempre | #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/mv5WVKcxvU

The Spanish legend’s best effort was unable to see off the Netherlands’ Van de Zandschulp, who earned his country a 1-0 lead in the quarter-final tie with a 6-4, 6-4 win after one hour and 51 minutes. Carlos Alcaraz then downed Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets to force a deciding doubles rubber in Malaga, but Wesley Koolhof and Van de Zandschulp later clinched a 2-1 win that ended Nadal's career with a straight-sets doubles triumph against Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers.

“I tried to have the best attitude possible, with the necessary energy, whatever the result,” continued Nadal after his singles defeat. “There was a glimmer of hope at the end, but it wasn’t to be. My opponent was better than me today and that’s that.”

Nadal had not competed since bowing out to Novak Djokovic in the second round at the Olympic Games in Paris in July. Since then, he has only been able to train on the practice court. However, he felt ready enough to be available to his captain, David Ferrer, for the tie.

“The decision was made that I would play. We knew it was a slightly risky decision. David had seen us all practising and we all thought I was the right player for the match,” explained the 92-time tour-level champion. “I tried, it wasn’t to be, in the end you can’t control your level, just your attitude, your energy, and your determination. That didn’t let me down. I simply wasn’t able to do what was required to get Spain a point.”

Nadal’s form was always an unknown factor: “I said that if I didn’t feel it, I wouldn’t play,” he reminded journalists. “I think my practice was good enough, but in competition I wasn’t able to perform as I would have liked. But the preparation was good.”

With the end of his career so close, two inevitable questions arose. Firstly, would he ever play a singles match again? The man himself answered: “Hopefully there is another opportunity, and we progress today. I think I would play a different player if I were captain, although I don’t have the power to make that decision now, it’s not up to me.”

Ultimately, however, the Netherlands' triumph ensured Nadal was not to experience one more match as a pro.

“I would experience it every day if I could,” Nadal had said when Spain remained alive in the tie. “But one thing is that I would like, and another is what’s best for the team. What an individual feels like isn’t necessarily the best for the team.

“It’s not for a lack of desire, of course I have the desire. I’m here because of my desire. Hopefully the situation arises. I’ll keep working to be available in doubles or singles. I’m just saying that having seen my level in competition, I think if I was captain, I wouldn’t select me.”

[ATP AWARDS]

With nothing for the Spaniard left to prove and with a legendary career already in the bag, nobody can blame him for today’s result. He battled until the final point. He fought to come back when nothing was going for him: the speed of the court, a lack of match time, and an opponent who was better on the day.

“Even when I’ve won, I’ve always been tough and self-critical of myself,” said the 22-time major champion. “To try and improve, I’ve always looked for the negatives. But today, which may be my last match, I’m not going to be hard on myself. I had nothing more. That’s the reality.”

Editor's note: This story was translated from ATPTour.com/es

To celebrate the end of Rafael Nadal's historic career at this week's Davis Cup Final 8, ATPTour.com is publishing a series of articles paying tribute to the Spaniard. View our #RafaSiempre series.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]