Carlos Alcaraz writes an emotional tribute to Rafael Nadal after the Davis Cup upset

The glorious career of the ‘King of Clay’, Rafael Nadal, came to an end with a defeat by the Netherlands in the 2024 Davis Cup final.

The 22-time Grand Slam winner played his farewell match with Team Spain on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, losing to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the tournament.

His teammate and four-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz, who has always shown great respect for the tennis legend, paid a heartfelt tribute to Nadal in an emotional Instagram post.

The 21-year-old wrote: “There will be many more Davis, Rafa; there is only one. Thanks to you I became a professional tennis player. It’s been a blessing to be able to manage your career as a kid you idolized, and then even more so as a teammate! The best possible ambassador who leaves an everlasting legacy.”

The 2024 French Open winner, who was previously given the privilege of becoming Rafa’s doubles partner at the Paris Olympics, expressed his desire to win the Davis Cup Finals trophy ahead of Nadal but failed to do so .

Note that Alcaraz put in a strong performance to beat Tallon Greekpoor 7-6(0), 6-3, leveling the tie and keeping his national team’s hopes alive at the tournament, but the narrow loss in the doubles ended Spain’s Davis Cup campaign.