Golf takes center stage in Mallorca

Rafael Nadal ended his unbelievable profession final Tuesday on the Davis Cup Finals. The 38-year-old performed his final singles match towards Botic van de Zandschulp, falling 6-4, 6-4. Rafa returned to Mallorca however didn’t avoid the competitors for too lengthy!

The Spaniard stepped on the golf course through the weekend, coming into the Hexagonal Q-Romia Circuit occasion in Mallorca. A passionate golfer, Nadal offered his expertise within the Handicap class, ending eight with a scorecard of 76 strokes. Thus, he demonstrated his precision and aggressive spirit.

Nadal’s participation on this occasion affords a glimpse into how he plans to embrace life after tennis, having fun with his time with family and friends. After over 20 years on the skilled circuit, Rafa can now embrace different passions and favourite issues he has been lacking for such a very long time.

🤣 Marc López y la competitividad de Rafa Nadal

➡️ “Es imposible ganarle al golf… Necesitaría vidas de entrenamiento para ganarle. Es alguien muy competitivo, es difícil ganarle en algo que él hace bien. Me gana en el parchís…”#DirectoGol pic.twitter.com/MSQTndGRzM

— Directo Gol (@DirectoGol) November 20, 2024

Rafael Nadal’s closing dance in 2024

Rafa struggled in 2021 and bounced again a yr later. The legend claimed back-to-back Main titles in Melbourne and Paris, shifting in entrance of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic within the GOAT race. Nevertheless, he injured his belly muscle mass at Wimbledon and withdrew forward of the semi-final.

Nadal struggled for the remainder of the yr, lacking an opportunity to change into world no. 1 at 36 and shedding confidence. Coming into the 2023 season with out type or rhythm, the Spaniard skilled a extreme hip harm on the Australian Open, lacking the remainder of the yr and present process surgical procedure.  

Regardless of essentially the most prolonged break of his profession, Rafa was able to bounce again and finish his tennis journey on his phrases. Nadal returned to motion in January this yr in Brisbane, making a promising begin earlier than experiencing one other blow! The Spaniard beat Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler. 

Nevertheless, he wasted three match factors towards Jordan Thompson and fell after three and a half hours. He felt the ache round his troubled hip and withdrew from the Australian Open. Nadal couldn’t catch a break, injuring his belly muscle mass in February and increasing his hiatus.

The legend returned to motion on the finish of April however couldn’t revive his A-game of the beloved floor. The king of clay scored 5 victories in Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and Paris, struggling early losses and considering retirement. Rafa confronted world no. 4 Alexander Zverev within the Roland Garros first spherical.

The German scored a 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 victory in three hours and 5 minutes, bouncing again within the second set and delivering the earliest loss for the 14-time Main winner. Rafa skipped the grass swing and entered Bastad forward of the Olympic Video games. 

The 36-year-old stopped the clock in Sweden, beating 4 rivals and reaching his first ATP closing in over two years. Nadal fell to Nuno Borges after shedding steam, injuring his proper thigh and touring to Paris for his closing Olympic Video games. Rafa misplaced to Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-4 within the second spherical. 

He missed the US Open and introduced his retirement in October, citing the Davis Cup Finals because the final occasion of his profession.  

Rafa’s final profession match

Spain confronted the Netherlands within the Davis Cup Finals quarter-final in Malaga. Nadal stepped in and competed within the nationwide jersey 20 years after debuting at 18. Rafa performed towards Botic van de Zandschulp and suffered a 6-4, 6-4 loss in an hour and 52 minutes, ending his profession with a loss. 

The house favourite received damaged 3 times and delivered one break. Rafa gave the whole lot however fell in straight units, struggling solely his second Davis Cup singles defeat. Botic performed higher behind the primary serve and took cost within the closing phases of the opening set. 

He broke the 22-time Main winner two instances within the second set and moved excessive. They served nicely within the opening eight video games of the duel. The Dutchman made a push on the return at 4-4 and secured a break with a backhand crosscourt winner. Botic served for the opener at 5-4. 

He transformed a set level with a service winner, shifting 6-4 forward after 46 minutes and gaining a lift. Rafa missed a break level firstly of the second set and skilled a break, falling a set and a break behind. Nadal held after deuces within the third recreation, decreasing the deficit to 2-1. 

Van de Zandschulp held within the fourth recreation for 3-1 and made one other push on the return within the subsequent one. He transformed the second break probability with a forehand crosscourt winner and constructed a 4-1 lead. Rafa made his solely push on the return within the sixth recreation. 

He pulled one break again and wished for extra for the remainder of the set. Nevertheless, he hit double faults within the seventh recreation and confronted a break level. The legend denied it with a service winner and closed the sport to stay in competition. Rafa grabbed the opening two factors at 3-4.

Nonetheless, his rival fired highly effective serves and held, shifting 5-3 in entrance and nearer to the end line. Nadal served to lengthen the match in recreation 9 and landed three service winners, decreasing the hole to 5-4 and chasing one final probability on the return. Botic stored his composure within the tenth recreation.

He fired a service winner at 30-30 for a match level and drew Nadal’s error, sending the Spaniard right into a well-deserved retirement.