A tearful Nadal leaves every last drop against Van de Zandschulp and leaves his withdrawal in the hands of Alcaraz

An image that would be repeated after hitting the last blow in this match against Botic van de Zandschulpwhich ends with defeat and a tremendous ovation. It is a mystery whether the Balearic Islander’s last drive has been seen. It is a reality to have seen the Mallorcan’s 31st match in this competition that awakens in him everything he is and more, proud of the national shirt, which he has worn on five occasions (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019) and in which He had only suffered one defeat, in his debut, against Jiri Novak. Add the second, and last in this tournament, but what difference does it make?

There is a jump to the sky, a sprint towards the baseline, there are little jumps to warm up and ward off nerves and excitement; There are mistakes with the right because they cannot hide from the “Rafa, Rafa, Rafa”, from the very long presentation and from the emotion with which the stands accompany the Balearic player in his last hours as a professional. There is what there has always been in the last twenty years. But he is one of the last and it shows in him, in everyone.

It is almost a paranormal phenomenon: Rafael Nadal He doesn’t play, Rafael Nadal makes people live. This is how the Martín Carpena pavilion feels, an entity that feels, that palpitates, that is moved in unison with each blow and each fist that the Balearic Islander raises. It is a magical experience now that the added time is experienced live, the blows that seemed eternal and that remain on the skin as deep as the lashes that he dedicates to Van de Zandschulp, guest of honor at this tribute match to which They choke both defenses and emotions.

In this last service to tennis, he was acclaimed before even taking to the court. There was an uproar when the name Carlos Alcaraz came up, but nothing to do with the resounding noise when “Rafaeeeel Nadaaaal” was heard, which will no longer be heard over the tournament public address system. To alleviate the emptiness, the enormous roar of Martín Carpena. It was even greater when, with his teammates, he went out on the court, once again transformed into Nadal, the warrior, shorts and bandana ready for action. But the emotion came first, concentrated in Nadal’s eyes while the anthem plays. This is not a tennis match, it is a feeling.

That Nadal is trying to get out with right hands and encouragement. Two “Let’s go” and a fist in the air in the first game. The Spaniard suffers, focused on making the points as fast as possible, a couple of hits, serve and net, avoiding long exchanges that make his physical condition pale. And if there is a rush, a request for support from the stands with that saw that cuts the air and the breath of the public when it reaches 3-2.

The right is still there, unleashing passions with each example. Also the sweat, unleashing applause when he needs a towel to clean the serve line. And the pride to carry out a break ball in the ninth game. But there have been several months without competition, and twenty years of physical and emotional wear and tear, speed and automatism have been lost, and the Dutchman strikes to the sides, which is where he does the most damage. The Spaniard moves as much as he can, gives everything he has, but does not reach Van de Zandschulp’s backhand passer and gives up his serve.

Carpena’s scoreboard refuses to continue giving the result. Not even he cares, concentrated, like everyone else, on watching the Balearic’s movements with the racket in his hand. Just in case this is the last time. It is in the hands of Carlos Alcaraz, and the doubles team, also with Alcaraz, that this is not the case.

Nadal has given everything he had. Too much given the circumstances and 113 days without the tension or adrenaline of a match like these, in which a victory is at stake for him and all his teammates. The stands shout: “Yes we can”, a motto whose greatest example is, precisely, Nadal. So many times has he been seen fallen, so many times has he gotten up; He has been defeated in so many games, he has returned in his favor in so many games. But he, and everyone, knows that it has been difficult, for a long time now, to find that spark, the shooting, the speed of his legs, that made him unique and inexplicable. And Van de Zandschulp is still there, doing his job, who trembled a little at the beginning, but with the break he entered into mental strength and does not pay attention to whoever is on the other side.

That’s why the second set is watching an emotional theater performance, aware of how it will end. A letting yourself be carried away by what happens on the track and that is transferred to the skin, and to the family album. Because there are still details to keep in the retina, because there is a game that lifts up Nadal and that lifts up the stands, and the hearts, and the applause, even if they are already losing 1-2. Because it was thought that Nadal was eternal and now we are sure that he is not, and that this is the last vestige of a lifetime dedicated to his victories and defeats that must be preserved in every way.

Nadal is accompanied in his last steps with a “Rafa, Rafa, Rafa” broken in the throats. A hall of honor, like the one that leaves the Dutchman for the second and final ‘break’, to celebrate that he was, that he is, that he has moved the world with his rackets. “Enjoy, Rafa,” a child shouts from the stands. He tries, although he also always can’t, he hasn’t been able to enjoy himself on a track for a long time. Too many scars on the body and soul. But it continues to make two more games enjoyable. And with three breaking balls in his hand, this is Nadal, in case someone fired him early: dream and make people dream. That he was defeated, with the ball against for 5-1, but he raised his fist and to the bench and to the stands and to Spain because he reduced the score. It’s difficult, still a break down, but what does it matter, it’s having Nadal making tennis history for a while longer.

But the Dutchman is not one for emotions and does not give in to the environment.

With 5-4 and a serve from the Dutchman, the stands rise with everything. He wants Nadal to go on a little longer, but there is no way with Van de Zandschulp, who has yet to face the bravest Nadal, fists raised, clean forehand, conviction, muscle, passion and honor. But he gets even with two last great serves and celebrates in style the first point of the tie for the Netherlands.

Has it been Nadal’s last game? It will depend on Carlos Alcaraz, but the Balearic Islands’ farewell does not depend on this result, perhaps on none, because the most important victory has come from all the courts, in the hearts of the people who applaud him wildly when he goes out to the center. to say hello and leave Martín Carpena, with a heavy heart he and everyone else.