Rafael Nadal suffers defeat at Davis Cup in possible farewell to tennis

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Rafael Nadal couldn't create a magical moment in the Davis Cup, facing a loss against Botic van de Zandschulp during a heartfelt night in Malaga.

The 38-year-old is participating in his final tournament after coming to terms last month with the fact that his body can no longer handle competing at the top level.

He was still holding out for one last win on familiar ground, which might still happen if his Spanish teammates can turn the quarter-final match around against the Netherlands and secure a spot for the host nation in the semi-finals. However, Van de Zandschulp dashed those hopes with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph.

This was just the second time Nadal lost a singles match in the Davis Cup, with his first defeat occurring during his inaugural appearance against the Czech Republic back in 2004.

Although the 22-time Grand Slam champion will certainly be upset with the outcome, in the end, it wasn't the main thing that truly mattered.

Thousands of Spanish supporters, many of whom spent over a million dollars on tickets, gathered at the Martin Carpena Arena, wrapped in red and yellow flags and scarves, eager to support their national hero for what might be his last performance.

During a press conference on Monday, Nadal expressed that he preferred to hold off on getting emotional until the end of his journey. His main focus remains on helping Spain secure its sixth Davis Cup title throughout his remarkable and lengthy career.

Nadal had tears in his eyes during an emotional performance of the national anthem, but his signature dash to the back of the court made it clear he was serious about the match.

This was just Nadal's eighth official tournament of the year, and the only singles matches he played since the Olympics in July were during an exhibition event in Saudi Arabia last month.

Captain David Ferrer couldn't help but show his approval, and there were moments when the old Nadal shone through with powerful forehands; each point he won was celebrated with energetic fist pumps and excited shouts.

However, Van de Zandschulp is no slouch; the Dutch player has achieved a world ranking as high as 22. After breaking his opponent's serve in the ninth game, he quickly went on to win the first set.

Nadal started to seem a bit slower than usual, and despite everyone rooting for him, he ended up falling behind by two breaks in the second set.

However, this top tennis player was determined to battle until the very end. He managed to gain back one game and was doing his best to even the score.

Carlos Alcaraz, set to compete in Spain's second match, stepped away from his practice to catch the final game from the sidelines, eager to soak up the experience.

Ultimately, there wouldn't be a significant comeback, as Nadal hit one last forehand into the net. He then said goodbye to the crowd with a wave and kisses before leaving the court, shaking his head one last time.