Rafael Nadal Played the Last Match of His Career. Tears Fell from Iga Świątek’s Eyes

At quarterfinal match against Dutchman Botic Van De Zandschulp in Malaga was filled with emotions from the very start. Nadal was visibly moved, shedding tears during the national anthem, and later received a standing ovation from the fans gathered in the arena.

After nearly two hours of battle, Nadal had to concede to his younger opponent, losing 4-6, 4-6. This marked his second singles loss in the Davis Cup, the first occurring in his debut match on February 6, 2004, against Jiří Novák in a Czech Republic vs. Spain tie.

“I lost my first and my last Davis Cup match,” Nadal said immediately after the match, clearing up any doubts about his future in the tournament. He confirmed that he would not be returning to the court, even if Spain advanced to the next round. “I feel like I’ve just played my last singles match,” said the 38-year-old, though he hinted that fans might still see him in doubles competition.

**An Emotional Iga Świątek**
The words of the 22-time Grand Slam champion drew an emotional reaction from Iga Świątek on social media. Świątek, for whom Nadal has been a great idol, expressed her feelings with a heartfelt post. “Too much,” she wrote on platform X (formerly Twitter), sharing a clip of the teary-eyed Nadal.

She also posted a brief but emotional message on Instagram, accompanied by a series of photos with the Spanish tennis legend. “I just can’t,” she wrote, adding a crying emoji and the hashtag “#GraciasRafa,” which translates to “Thank you, Rafa.”

“You were and still are the greatest inspiration I’ve had in tennis. The reason I push myself forward with extra motivation,” Świątek wrote about Nadal when he first announced his retirement.