The lights of Martin Carpena They lost strength until they completely died out to give way to a tennis player who shines with his own light. Nadal It gives off a nostalgic aroma with every racquet swing. They could be his last, who knows, it no longer depends on his racket. For now, what is clear is that the Spanish Armada has no margin for error after Nadal retired against Botic van de Zandschulp (6-4, 6-4) at the end of an admirable exercise of pride.
His face straight, the first tears flooding his face and his heart beating, not only his, but that of all Spain. Nadal appeared in Carpena pushed by a red tide dedicated to the cause. In his blows lies the strength of an entire country, but those of Botic neither are they orphans of vigor. A sector of Carpena displays the orange papaya of the land of tulips.
The outcome of the match is logic. The 80th world tennis player, 29 years old, won by beating the 154th, 38 years old. The rational always has reasons that the sentimental ignores. But how can we not place hope in someone who has defied reason and emerged victorious time and time again. His presence and his legacy are intimidating.
Tell Van de Zandschulp. Three double faults on his first serve. It is important to play against the Balearic player, who maintains his serve, even if we see something lack of rhythm and reaction. Logically, Rafa has not played a match since he faced Djokovic at the Paris Olympic Games, almost four months ago.
Nadal is not retiring because he is exhausted from tennis. He is retiring because he no longer has the opportunity to train and play at a level that rewards him personally. He retires because Rafa can no longer be Rafa. This tennis player whose technique was superior, but who turned matches around due to his inhuman resistance and mental strength.
He has only been able to play intermittently this season and after the summer sips in Bastad and the Paris Games, he gave up on continuing to compete to concentrate on Malaga. The parenthesis is added to those previously made due to injuries. Van de Zandschulp does not realize this, because he raises his percentage of points won on the first serve to the sky and, on the second, breaks Nadal.
11,000 people gathered in the stands and millions in front of the screen, but Rafa can’t do it. Ready for the Dutch and worry for the Balearicswhich doesn’t scare him after the step with his bench. Talk to Ferrer and head back into battle. Van de Zandschulp denies him the momentum with another consolidated break in the next game with his serves.
Nadal doesn’t give up. Yes, he will retire, but in his own way. He will die killing. After a long rally, he awards the point and Carpena is excited. Nadal holds out his fist, shouts, sometimes we see the usual Rafa in the Carpena. But Van de Zandschulp denies any possible appearance. Solid on serve and inspired on his forehand, he chained winning shots until breaking Rafa again.
“Yes, you can,” shout the stands. Rafa thinks so too, that he shouldn’t log out of the game even if he’s pushed over the cliff. He has a broad back What Luis Aragonés would say. With a break point in his favor, he attempts an ineffective drop shot. He hits his forehead, he knows it wasn’t the time. But he insists again, he does it so much that on the third time he manages to make Van de Zandschulp break down.
These are the last claws of a wounded lion. After ecstasy, his service enters into anguish. Up to seven draws, but he still wins the game. This excites those present, including Ferrer, who demands more push from the stands. Van de Zandschulp intervenes again with a serving cannon. This is how a match ends which has sometimes had epic connotations for Nadal. He struggled vigorously, but was unsuccessful. Spain remains without margin for error in Davis. Alcaraz must win in singles and the Spanish duo in doubles. Rafa is eternal.
