Summary

  • Rafael Nadal's career ends as Spain lose 2-1 to the Netherlands in Davis Cup

  • Nadal lost 6-4 6-4 to Van de Zandschulp in what was last match of his career

  • Carlos Alcaraz beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 to level tie

  • But Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers lost 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3) to Wesley Koolhof and Botic van de Zandschulp in deciding doubles

  • 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal announced impending retirement earlier in year

  1. Koolhof holds servepublished at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 7-6 (7-4) 1-0 Alcaraz/Granollers*

    Carlos Alcaraz tries to prolong the game, but he can't quite squeeze that backhand in.

    A solid start for the Dutch duo.

  2. Game and first set - Netherlandspublished at 22:03 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 7-6 (7-4) Alcaraz/Granollers

    After 70 minutes, we have a first-set winner!

    An inspired performance from Wesley Koolhof, who may have taken one step closer to extending his career while also bringing Rafael Nadal's closer to an end.

  3. Tie-breakpublished at 22:01 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 6-6 (6-4) Alcaraz/Granollers

    What a point! And Wesley Koolhof celebrates wildly. He gets the next point, too and all of a suddden there's a couple of set points available to the Dutchmen.

  4. Tie-breakpublished at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 6-6 (4-4) Alcaraz/Granollers

    A big, big serve from Wesley Koolhof, that fizzes past a diving Carlos Alcaraz.

    The Spaniard replies with a blistering serve of his own. 4-4.

  5. Tie-breakpublished at 21:58 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 6-6 (3-3) Alcaraz/Granollers

    The crowd Carlos Alcaraz sends Wesley Koolhof into the advertising boards with a lofty lob. Somehow the Dutchman gets the return away, but Marcel Granollers is there to wrap up the point and level the tie-break with a booming overhead winner.

  6. Tie-breakpublished at 21:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 6-6 (3-2) Alcaraz/Granollers

    Botic van de Zandschulp recovers with a brutal backhand winner down the line, before Wesley Koolhof goes long. 3-2.

  7. Tie-breakpublished at 21:55 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 6-6 (2-1) Alcaraz/Granollers

    That's some return from Wesley Koolhof, threading a forehand down the line.

    The Dutch duo can't make the most of the mini-break as Botic van de Zandschulp skies the ball with a wild mishit.

  8. Koolhof holds to force tie-breakpublished at 21:53 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 6-6 Alcaraz/Granollers

    Wesley Koolhof struts to the back of the court with a clenched fist as he sends a backhand volley cross-court, fooling both Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers.

    And to a tie-break we go as Botic van de Zandschulp nicks the ball over.

  9. Postpublished at 21:52 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    *Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 5-6 Alcaraz/Granollers

    An ace from Wesley Koolhof is followed by another big serve that Marcel Granollers can't get back over.

    The Dutchman tries to squeeze over a sneaky backhand volley to catch out Carlos Alcaraz, but it falls short at the net. 30-15.

  10. Granollers holdspublished at 21:49 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    *Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 5-6 Alcaraz/Granollers

    Marcel Granollers sees the space and he makes the most of it with a drop volley, cushioning it over.

    A rapid reaction from Carlos Alcaraz at the net gets the hold over the line - piling the pressure back on the Dutch pair.

  11. Postpublished at 21:47 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 5-5 Alcaraz/Granollers*

    Wesley Koolhof holds up a hand in apology as he fires a feisty forehand straight at Marcel Granollers, who just about protects himself with his racquet and sends the ball into the sky.

    Botic van de Zandschulp is left scrambling on Granoller's next serve. 30-30.

  12. Postpublished at 21:46 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 5-5 Alcaraz/Granollers*

    Wesley Koolhof shakes up the pace, blasting away a brutal forehand before catching out Marcel Granollers with a drop shot.

    It's Carlos Alcaraz's turn to impress next, coming forward and squeezing a volley back along the net and over. 15-15.

  13. Van de Zandschulp holds servepublished at 21:44 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 5-5 Alcaraz/Granollers*

    Spain miss the chance to wrap up the set, and the Dutch duo eventually come through as Carlos Alcaraz finds the net.

    How big will those missed set point chances prove to be?

  14. Set point Spainpublished at 21:42 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    *Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 4-5 Alcaraz/Granollers

    Marcel Granollers sprints across the net and nods down a backhand straight at Wesley Koolhof, who knew nothing about it.

    A nod of approval from Nadal.

  15. Postpublished at 21:41 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    *Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 4-5 Alcaraz/Granollers

    The Dutch team pull it back and there's a huge roar from the Dutch contingent as Wesley Hoolhof pulls off an overhead winner.

    But the Dutchman can't get to the next Carlos Alcaraz backhand and we go back to deuce.

  16. Set point Spainpublished at 21:39 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    *Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 4-5 Alcaraz/Granollers

    Marcel Granollers goes wide but Carlos Alcaraz comes to the rescue, somehow twisting his body to get an awkward return back over that Koolhof sends into the net.

    Another Dutch miss and it's set point Spain.

  17. Postpublished at 21:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    *Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 4-5 Alcaraz/Granollers

    Groans from the Dutch fans, roars from the Spanish ones as Botic van de Zandschulp double faults. 30-30.

  18. Postpublished at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    *Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 4-5 Alcaraz/Granollers

    Two quickfire winners from Wesley Koolhof open up a 30-0 lead for the Dutch duo, but Marcel Grannollers pulls a point back with a piercing forehand winner down the line. 30-15.

  19. Postpublished at 21:35 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    *Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 4-5 Alcaraz/Granollers

    Now then, can Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granoller's get something here to take this opening set?

    So far, they've failed to make the most of two break points.

  20. Alcaraz holds servepublished at 21:33 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2024

    *Koolhof/Van de Zandschulp 4-5 Alcaraz/Granollers

    I think Wesley Koolhof and Botic van de Zandschulp were on their way to high-five each other before Marcel Granollers smashed down that overhead winner. They knew there was no saving that.

    The Spaniard is there with a lightning fast reaction at the net to smother a return and Carlos Alcaraz slams down an ace to hold.