Exclusive – Botic van de Zandschulp, Rafael Nadal’s last opponent: ‘It has not sunk in yet’
The Dutch tennis player tells Olympics.com of his unique experience, defeating Nadal in his final professional match at the Davis Cup.
Tennis
Playing Rafael Nadal is a feat of its own, but to do so in his final ever match and beat him? That is a unique accolade that only belongs to Botic van de Zandschulp.
The Dutchman had the honour of playing Nadal in his first match of the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8, and what would prove to be the two-time Olympic champion’s final professional tennis match in a 6-4, 6-4 defeat.
A few days have passed since the emotionally charged night at the Martin Carpena Arena, in which the world number 80 won the first match as the Netherlands defeated the hosts 2-1 to advance to the semi-final.
“I think the one against Rafa mentally, the whole occasion here, playing in Spain against Rafael, it's the hardest thing to do,” Van de Zandschulp tells Olympics.com in Málaga. “Maybe Roland Garros is even harder. But that one was one of the toughest.”
The Netherlands are now in the Davis Cup final for the first time, having overcome Germany 2-0 in the semi-final.
Rafael Nadal (left) shakes hands with Botic van de Zandschulp, his final opponent in professional tennis.
Van de Zandschulp and a famous victory over Nadal
Amid the whirlwind of emotions and intense environment, the feeling is still fresh for the 29-year-old, who recorded his first career victory over Nadal at the Davis Cup.
There may be more important wins to come, but surely there will be no more significant occasion than the one he contested on Tuesday, 19 November 2024.
Asked whether the reality of being Nadal’s last opponent has sunk in yet, van de Zandschulp confesses, “No, not yet. Maybe after the tournament. For me, this stuff always takes some time, especially when you're during a tournament.”
“You want to focus on the next match; same happened in the US Open for example with Carlos Alcaraz,” the Dutchman explains, referring to his shock victory over the world number three at Flushing Meadows in August. “That's how I process things. Maybe in the next week I will process it.”
Van de Zandschulp broke Nadal three times and overcame the pressure of the adoring home crowd to win in straight sets, having lost the previous two meetings which both came at Grand Slams.
Botic van de Zandschulp’s dream Davis Cup
Van de Zandschulp has played three Davis Cup matches en route to the Netherlands’ first final appearance, winning all three of them and dropping just one set (which itself came after an exhaustive 26-point tiebreak).
He has now beaten Spain’s retiring king and incumbent prince in the same year – on the same day no less, overcoming Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers in the deciding doubles alongside Wesley Koolhof.
“The doubles was also really tough against Alcaraz and Granollers,” van de Zandschulp says. “It could have gone either way, but in the end, it went our way and this one could have been a little bit easier, but I think this one was maybe the lesson.”
One of the factors that has helped the Dutchman have a superb finals is the fast court in Málaga, which is popular among many players and teams at the Davis Cup.
Van de Zandschulp explains, “It's a nice court. I always like to play here in Málaga. I played some good matches here, it suits me but it also suits a lot of other players. Australia is always doing well here, Italy is doing well here.
“It's not only benefitting me but our team, it's also helping; Tallon [Griekspoor] likes the court, Wesley likes the court.”
The Netherlands are only one win away from clinching the Davis Cup final for the first time ever.