Rafael Nadal in professional tennis, 80th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp, converted his 10th match point Friday to finally close out a 6-4, 6-7 (12), 6-3 victory over Daniel Altmaier and help the Netherlands reach its first Davis Cup final by sweeping Germany.

Rafael Nadal bade an emotional farewell at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals. His match with Botic van de Zandschulp ended in a 6-4 6-4 defeat and was the last of his astonishing career.

Rafael Nadal ended his stratospheric tennis career on Tuesday night after Spain lost their Davis Cup quarter-final tie against the Netherlands in Malaga, southern Spain. Nadal, 38, went down in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp in the opening match at the José María Martín Carpena Arena before Carlos Alcaraz levelled proceedings with a 7-6,

Nadal won 22 Grand Slam titles in his career and retires as one of the greatest men's tennis players of all time.

Italy's Matteo Berrettini comfortably beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4 6-2 in the first singles clash of the Davis Cup final against the Netherlands on Sunday to hand the holders a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three tie.

The Davis Cup champions for 2024 will be officially crowned on Sunday as Italy take on the Netherlands in this year’s final. It has been a memorable finals week in Malaga so far, with the Dutch team proving their composure to topple hosts Spain in the opener and end the illustrious career of Rafael Nadal in the process.