Rafael Nadal soaked up the emotion of a memorable but bittersweet evening in Malaga as his professional career came to an end.
The 38-year-old opted to make the Davis Cup Finals his last event having accepted last month that his body would no longer allow him to compete at the highest level.
Spanish fans, some of whom had paid seven-figure sums for tickets, flocked to the Martin Carpena Arena in their thousands, draped in red and yellow flags and scarves and ready to cheer on their national hero one more time.
Nadal was hoping for one final victory on home soil but Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp spoiled the party with a 6-4 6-4 victory, and Spain’s quarter-final elimination was confirmed after Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in the deciding doubles.
“What I have tried to do is to be a good person and I hope you have perceived that,” Nadal told the Malaga crowd.
“I leave the tennis world having met so many friends along the way. I have so many people to thank.
“I leave with the peace of mind of having left a sporting and personal legacy I can be proud about.
Rafael Nadal announces retirement from professional tennis
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“Thanks to all of you, the public. It’s over 20 years, good years, bad years. I have been able to live with all of you.
“I have felt very fortunate to feel so much affection from all over the world, especially here in Spain.”
It was only Nadal’s second ever Davis Cup loss in singles, with the other coming on his debut against Czech Republic’s Jiri Novak way back in 2004.
