'I tried my best' - retiring Nadal loses at farewell Davis Cup

Rafael Nadal announced last month that the Davis Cup would be the final tournament of his 23-year professional career

Rafael Nadal was beaten in what might prove to be the final match of his career as the start of his Davis Cup retirement party fell flat.

Spanish great Nadal, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, will end his playing days after the men's team event in Malaga.

It had been unclear whether the 38-year-old would be ready to feature in the singles but he was selected for the first match against the Netherlands, despite not playing competitively for over three months.

The move backfired in front of a partisan Spanish crowd as Nadal lost 6-4 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp, who stayed composed in testing conditions to put his team 1-0 up.

"I tried my best, I tried to enjoy and play with the right energy and the right attitude," said Nadal.

"It just didn't work. There was a possibility that that would happen."

If Spain are unable to overturn the deficit in the best-of-three tie, there will be no further opportunity for Nadal to play again.

Nadal took time to linger in the centre of the court after his defeat, waving to the 11,500 fans packed into the Palacio de Deportes.

He said afterwards he put "no pressure" on captain David Ferrer to pick him, but joked he would not selected himself if Spain set up a semi-final against Germany or Canada.

"It is not my decision and I'm sure he will make the best decision possible for the team," said Nadal, whose Davis Cup career started in 2004 with a defeat by Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic.

With a smile, he added: "In some ways it is good, maybe, if that was my last match because I lost my first match in the Davis Cup and I lost my last one.

"We close the circle."

Nadal overcome by emotions and nerves

In his pre-tournament news conference on Monday, Nadal insisted he would not be distracted by emotion as he aimed to help Spain win the Davis Cup for a sixth time in his career.

That was the theory. In practice, the occasion got to Nadal within minutes of walking out to a thunderous ovation.

Nadal visibly teared up during the Spanish national anthem. His right hand shook uncontrollably.

Once the anthem stopped, he was able to raise his arm into the air and mouthed "Gracias" to the supporters chanting his name.

"Of course it has been an emotional day and I felt nerves before what can be my last singles match as a professional," Nadal said.

Van de Zandschulp said he could detect Nadal's jitters - and feel them himself.

"The crowd was tough, understandably," said Van de Zandschulp.

"That is what it is to play against Rafa in Spain. He is probably the biggest sportsman in Spain to have ever lived."

Nadal's level was understandably far below his best.

Occasionally he showed fizz on his famous forehand, but it was not enough to push his opponent deeper in the court.

The shorter balls allowed Van de Zandschulp, who is ranked 80th in the world but beat Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open, to pick off his opponent.

In a febrile atmosphere where Van de Zandschulp's missed first serves were cheered, the 29-year-old Dutchman deserved great credit for staying focused and seeing out an important victory for his nation.

"It is tough to close out a match against him, knowing it could be his last," said Van de Zandschulp.

"I felt I was hoping a bit more than going for it. I went for it and it helped in the end."

The legacy which Nadal is leaving

Nadal will retire as the second-most successful men's singles player of all time, behind only long-time rival Novak Djokovic.

Known as the 'King of Clay', Nadal lifted the French Open singles title a record 14 times, winning 112 of his 116 major matches at Roland Garros.

No player has won as many Grand Slam singles titles at the same tournament.

Nadal is also a four-time US Open champion and won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice.

He won Olympic singles and doubles gold and helped Spain win four Davis Cup finals, most recently in 2019.