Nadal: "On such a fast court, everything went very quickly".

This time, it's over. Rafael Nadal is no longer a professional tennis player. Following Spain's defeat by the Netherlands in Málaga, the Majorcan has officially retired from the sport after 23 years at the highest level.

Beaten by Botic van de Zandschulp in the first match of the Davis Cup quarter-final against the Dutch, Nadal appeared in a press conference afterwards.

The Spaniard spoke of the difficulties he encountered in getting used to such a fast surface.

Nadal talks about his lack of matches in recent months

"In the end, I'm happy. I did what I could. I tried to use the energy I needed to win the matches," Nadal begins.

"I just didn't have the ability to read the game quickly enough to feel in control. I think that on such a fast court, and with very little competition in my legs in recent months, everything went very quickly.

I didn't have time to think and be dominant.
When you're off the circuit, it can happen that you have trouble keeping up.

And it all comes down to details. There are lots of little reactions you need to have to work automatically, without needing to think.

In this case, I'm not one of those players who has reflexes on the court."

"I've tried. I've been self-critical enough throughout my career to always try to improve," he concluded in Catalan.

The whole of Spain had been dreaming of this, but it was not to be. Nadal will not end his career with a trophy. His number of Davis Cup titles will remain stuck at five.