The world No. 80 put the Netherlands ahead 1-0 in their quarterfinal tie, with Spain now needing to win the final two rubbers to advance.
Coming into this week’s Davis Cup Finals, Rafael Nadal had played 1,307 tour-level matches in his career.
Might a 1,308th be his final act?
Botic van de Zandschulp played spoiler to Nadal’s tearjerking homecoming in Malaga, knocking off the 22-time major winner with a 6-4, 6-4 victory to put the Netherlands up 1-0 against host Spain in their quarterfinal tie. The effort snapped Nadal’s 29-match singles win streak in Davis Cup competition, a stretch spanning more than 20 years following a losing debut to Jiri Novak as a 17-year-old.
Tuesday will mark the end of Nadal’s career if his team doesn’t manage to win the next two rubbers. World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz is due to face Tallon Griekspoor, ahead of a potential deciding doubles showdown that would feature fellow retiring competitor Wesley Koolhof.
Given the stakes, there were understandable nerves from both competitors in the early goings—van de Zandschulp double faulting on three consecutive points from 40-0 up in his opening service game, and Nadal taking a more passive than usual approach when trading groundstrokes.
The tension mounted as both players settled in, with chances to strike first few and far between. At 3-3, Nadal reached back for two clutch first serves after the Dutchman pushed him to deuce. The following game, it was van de Zandschulp’s turn to hit his spots when he, too, was brought to 40-40 on the scoreboard.
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The tide then turned. Slow getting forward on a serve and volley in the deuce court, Nadal watched his opponent’s forehand sail by for 15-30. Setting up two break points with deep hitting, the world No. 80 put the set on his racquet—countering Nadal’s approach shot with a powerful crosscourt backhand winner into the open court. There would be no problem consolidating in securing the crucial lead.
With van de Zandschulp continuing to press, Nadal pulled out one of his signature shots—a skyhook—to avoid falling behind 15-40 at the start of set two. But once again staring down deuce, the Spaniard lost another point at the net before spraying a forehand wide to get broken.
Down 0-2, Nadal’s fighting spirit that has captivated audiences for two decades shone through when he scraped through a 12-point game. A window presented itself when van de Zandschulp hit successive double faults at 2-1, but an uncharacteristic unforced error on a rally ball from Nadal at 30-30 ultimately ended his hopes of getting back on serve.
"Van de Zandschulp poured it on by coming through another gritty game against Nadal’s serve with another dazzling crosscourt passing shot winner, this time on the forehand side, to move ahead by a double break.
The 38-year-old didn’t let the deficit deter him from fighting, getting one break back to ignite cheers of “Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole!” inside Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena. Donating a double fault and framed forehand to launch his next service game, van de Zandschulp yet again contained his nerves to stay in front. Asked the question one final time two games later, finished the job for his nation with two of his best second serves on the day.
“In the beginning, I think we were both nervous,” van de Zandschulp said afterwards. “The first service game 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. It was a really special event.”
- Matt Fitzgerald
