France, Nov. 20 -- Rafael Nadal ended his stratospheric tennis career on Tuesday night after Spain lost their Davis Cup quarter-final tie against the Netherlands in Malaga, southern Spain.

Nadal, 38, went down in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp in the opening match at the Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena before Carlos Alcaraz levelled proceedings with a 7-6, 6-3 win over Talon Griekspoor.

However, Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof - also bidding farewell to the ATP circuit - combined to see off Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers 7-6, 7-6.

"I tried my best. I tried to enjoy and play with the right energy and the right attitude," said Nadal after his defeat to the world number 80.

"It just didn't work. There was a possibility that...