Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup Finals 2024 Highlights: Nadal loses farewell match 4-6, 4-6

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup Finals 2024 Live: Rafa loses the first two points, but pulls one back at the end of a long rally. Terrific display of athleticism from both players there. 15-30 to Nadal. Makes it 30-all with a powerful backhand. Had Botic returned it, the point was his. But Nadal is pumped. What a second serve from Botic as Nadal failed to fashion a return. He is dejected. Match point for Botic. And he holds to seal a victory. And with that nadal loses his farewell match.

Rafael Nadal 4-6, 4-6 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup Finals 2024 Live: An effective ace down the T, packed with power and he remains alive in the game at 40-30. Holds serve.

Rafael Nadal* 4-6, 4-5 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup Finals 2024 Live: Botic concedes first two points, but fires an ace to pull one back with the fastest serve of the match. Levels it to 30-all. Makes it 40-3- with an ace down the T. And holds with another ace, his 8th in the match.

Rafael Nadal 4-6, 3-5 *Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup Finals 2024 Live: Nadal survives, saves break point to hold serve. For the first time in the match, he has won back-to-back games.

Rafael Nadal* 4-6, 3-4 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup Finals 2024 Live: The last time Nadal lost a Davis Cup match in Spain was almost two decade ago, in 2005, in a doubles match. Nadal earns the first break in the match in an hour and half. What an effort from Botic to save that. Nadal had him, almost, but Botic's court coverage was sensational. Another break point for Nadal, had the opportunity to go with the big forehand against the 2nd serve, but he squanders it. Carlos Moya looks dejected. A third opportunity presents Nadal. The game had already hit the 10-minute mark. AND HE DOES IT! NADAL BREAKS!

Rafael Nadal 4-6, 2-4 *Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup Finals 2024 Live: Nadal sets himself up for a win, but errs to hand Botic a big advantage. Chance to break for the second time in this set. Nadal survives with a huge 1st serve. 194 kmph down the T! Botic earns another break point with a forehand crosscourt return. Nadal gets broken for the second time.

Rafael Nadal* 4-6, 1-4 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup Finals 2024 Live: A huge, huge hold for Nadal. Just steals it from the Dutchman and he is finally up and running in the second set. That skyhook was absolutely special from Nadal and it re-energised him and the home crowd. Botic then holds serve comfortably

Rafael Nadal 4-6, 1-3 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup Finals 2024 Live: A fifth double fault from Botic in the match and Nadal goes 30-15 up. Bit ofa fist pump there from the Spaniard. But the Dutchman responds with two back-to-back huge first serves. Leads 40-30. Holds

Rafael Nadal 4-6, 0-2 *Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup Finals 2024 Live: Nadal already under pressure at the start of the second set. Botic is winning three-quarters of the points when more than 3 shots are played in a rally. There comes the skyhook! Absolutely unbelievable! Stretches Botic with the wide serve and completes with the volley. Nadal conceded the lead in the game and Botic breaks again

Rafael Nadal* 4-6, 0-1 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: Nadal is not quite timing his groundstrokes and hence it is dropping short and giving Botic the advantage. Holds to 15 to win the opening set.

Rafael Nadal 4-6 *Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: Serve and volley, that is what has been working for Nadal so far. A forst double fault from Rafa. 15-all. Botic catches Nadal off guard with a clever forehand down the line and he takes a lead. Oh…the first break in the match. The Orange Army are on their feat. Nadal pulls one back. Its still 40-30 in favour of Botic. And the Dutchman does it. He breaks Nadal.

Rafael Nadal* 4-5 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: Nadal is one of the best defensive players on the tour. But this court, is about not playing that defensive game and rather bringing in more aggression. That is where Rafa will be tested. A 4th double fault in the match for Botic and Nadal finds himself at 30-40. Rafa sensing a bit of vulnerability, pounces on the second serve and wins the point. Deuce! Oh a big wide first serve - that's the response from Botic. And he holds!

Rafael Nadal 4-4 *Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: Nadal Slightly miss hits his backhand slice and Botic fires a forehand passing shot to pull one back at 15-30. Another impressive display of tennis from the 29-year-old. Leaves Nadal with no answer to that forehand return. Nadal bounces back with an ace. Botic, however, cramps him up for space in the backhand corner yet again and errs. Deuce. Nadal goes one up with another good first serve. Finally holds!

Rafael Nadal* 4-3 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: Two deep returns, packed with power and Botic finds himself 30-0 up. Holds to 15 with an ace down the line. 215khmph that serve!.

Rafael Nadal 3-3 *Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: That celebration from Nadal…it definitely tells that there is a surge in confidence. Goes 40-0 up! The serve and volley tactice is looking very profitable from Nadal. Holds to love!

Rafael Nadal* 3-2 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: No error from the 29-year-old this time as he holds to love on his second service game.

Rafael Nadal 2-2 *Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: Botic puts a bit too much power on the backhand as he approaches the net, but the ball sails over the baseline. 30-all. Nadal draws an error with his aggressive stance at the net. And he holds.

Rafael Nadal* 2-1 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: President of the Spanish tennis federation is also present at the venue for Nadal's final match. Nadal goes for the trademark forehand down the line, one of the most famous follow-throughs in the sport, but it goes wide. Botic up 40-0. Oh a double fault from the Dutchman. And then another! Nadal suddenly finds himself at 30-40. Goodness me! A third double fault! Botic finally wins on his second serve. Did look comfortable with his big forehand once he got into the rally. And he closes it.

Rafael Nadal 1-1 *Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: Deep returns from Botic and Nadal's being pushed back early in the opening game. The Dutchman leads 30-15, before Nadal pulls back another following a backhand error from Botic. Now Nadal steps up, goes for the serve and volley and Botic errs. And he wins the first game.

Rafael Nadal* 1-0 Botic van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: And so it begins! Rafa serves. His family, including wife and son, is present in the stand.

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: Nadal is all set for his singles match against Botic. The bottles are arranged. He has a word with Ferrer. Nadal will serve first as the Dutchman opted to recieve after winning the toss.

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: Nadal gets emotional as crowd breaks into ‘Rafa’ chants. He waves at the crowd to acknowledge it as the camera also captures his family in the stand.

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: It's time for the national anthem for the two teams. Netherlands go first. There are a considerable number of Dutch fans at the venue. That will be followed by Spain

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: The Netherlands players make their way into the venue in Malaga. The presenter announces each of the players. And now comes Team Spain. THERE IS NADAL!

Rafael Nadal vs Botic van de Zandschulp Davis Cup 2024 Finals Live: The crowd in Malaga is all set for Nadal's farewell match. We are now just minutes away from the singles tie kicking off