The lights have gone down in the arena and there's an audio clip with passionate Spanish commentary taken from one of Rafael Nadal's matches.

The tears are about to start flowing...

Image source, Getty Images

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.

The tributes have started pouring in for Rafael Nadal. We'll bring you all of those shortly and we'll hear from the man himself in just a moment.

Image source, Getty

It's the end of an era.

As the curtain closes on Rafael Nada's career, we want to hear from you.

What are your favourite Rafa moments and what legacy does he leave behind?

Let us know via the methods above.

How must Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers be feeling? They just couldn't quite get it over the line to prolong Rafael Nadal's career.

Contrasting emotions.

Wesley Koolhof falls to his knees in celebration, while Rafael Nadal looks on with a downhearted glare.

It's the end of the road for the 22-time major winner.

This is it. Three match points for the Dutch duo.

This is tense. The Netherlands are two points away from ending Spain's Davis Cup hopes and calling an end to Rafael Nadal's career.

Botic van de Zandschulp reacts quickly to send the ball straight at Carlos Alcaraz, who can't adjust quick enough to get a return away.

The Dutchman follows that up with another superb volley that clinches the line by millimetres. 5-3.

A strong second serve from Marcel Granollers and Wesley Koolhof can only find the net. 3-3.

Another ace from Botic van de Zandschulp.

Rafael Nadal can't bear to sit down.

3-2.

You only need to listen to the crowd to know who has won the point. A huge cheer as Botic van de Zandschulp finds the net.

But they get lucky with the next point to move level at 2-2.

The Dutch duo dominated the last tie-break, but what can Spain do here?

1-1.

Carlos Alcaraz, take a bow. The four-time major winner takes Spain into a break with a diving backhand winner, that he sends across the face of the net and over. Superb.

A big second serve from Marcel Granollers and Carlos Alcaraz is there to smash home the follow up. 40-30.

Rafael Nadal is up on his feet. His nerves must be shattered.

The end of his career rests on this.

Spain pull level at 30-30.

How must Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers be feeling? The pressure is huge.

They start off so well, but Granollers needlessly flings a backhand wide to give the Netherlands a 15-30 lead.

Absolutely no trouble for the Netherlands on serve. They get through that service game easily and the pressure is put back on Marcel Granollers.

He has to hold serve now. Or else it's all over for Spain, and it's all over for Rafael Nadal.

"VAMOS!"

Carlos Alcaraz was under an immense amount of pressure there but he keeps Spain in it.

On we go...