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Eighteenth of November 2024, the day Rafael Nadal Parera's sports career ended. The day Spain, somehow influenced by the legend of the Balearic player, was eliminated by the Netherlands in their first round at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Forced into a decisive third match, Marcel Granollers and Carlos Alcaraz failed to complete the comeback against Wesley Koolhof and Botic Van de Zandschulp (7-6, 7-6), leaving a speechless Martín Carpena dreaming of great things this week. A tournament we will never forget, even though we all believed we had more than enough pieces to go very far in the competition.

That's the nature of this new Davis Cup, a competition that since the format change has become the most challenging trophy to conquer. With so many variables at play, the slightest detail can tip the scales, potentially eliminating the top contender and giving a boost to the underdog team. This time, fortune seemed to favor us, with Carlos Alcaraz's victory balancing out Rafa Nadal's prior defeat. But in doubles, it's always a toss-up, especially when such high-level players come together. Was Koolhof better than Granollers in doubles? Probably not. And was Van de Zandschulp better than Alcaraz in singles? Perhaps not either. However, such theories hold little weight in a match of such high stakes.

The match started at a slow pace, with a 70-minute first set. Each pair had their moment, with break points, incredible points, and a devoted crowd. Despite all this, the score remained tight, leading to a tiebreak to settle it all. The Dutch team managed to take a 3-1 lead, then fell behind 3-4, creating a tense atmosphere where one misstep could be catastrophic. The Spaniards found themselves slightly behind, and the clock signaled that there was no time left. David Ferrer's team and Nadal's career were just one set away from disappearing.

Fortunately, in tennis, things can change rapidly, especially in a doubles match. After not seeing a break in the first set for 70 minutes, it was surprising that a breakthrough happened in just three games in the second set. And it was Spain who seized the opportunity, needing to react to the situation at hand. From that point on, the perspective shifted, confidence was regained among the fans, but there was still a lot of ground to cover on the court. The second set became quite lengthy, danger lurking at every turn, until the eighth game brought what we dreaded. The Netherlands clawed back with a strong performance by Van de Zandschulp, and tension filled the air. With the visitors leading 5-4, the Spanish Armada's hopes were hanging by a thread.

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By now, you know how the story ends. As Nadal said, happy endings only occur in Hollywood. Granollers and Alcaraz couldn't find the right formula to perform better than the Dutch pair. The defeat marks the end of a Davis Cup that had sparked so much excitement. Could we have done better? What if Bautista had played the first match? What if Nadal had teamed up with Marcel for the doubles? What if...? None of this matters in the sports world. All we can do is swallow this bitter pill that stings so much right now and learn for the future.

A future without Rafa Nadal, who hangs up his racket after two decades of a legendary career, numerous records, and an impressive individual record in the Davis Cup of 29-2. Only two losses in that record and a 20-year gap between them. The second, this afternoon's loss, proved pivotal in Spain stepping back from its aspirations to lift the trophy, but we won't hold it against him. Thank you, Rafa, for making us dream big. Thank you, Rafa, for never backing down in the face of adversity. Thank you, Rafa, for teaching us how to handle victory and defeat. And thank you, Rafa, because sooner rather than later, you will return as captain to bring back what slipped away today. We'll be waiting for you.

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