Rafa, an icon in his home country of Spain, started strongly and scraped out a one-game lead that he managed to hold all the way to 4-3 in the first set. But the sharpness he'd showed started to dull, and we saw the less precise and more familiar Nadal of ...

Since Rafael Nadal announced his retirement in early October, all focus has remained fixed on his final professional tournament at the Davis Cup. Building up to the momentous day, tributes and celebration of the 38-year-old have overtaken the international competition.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion's physical limitations were laid bare in what could be his last appearance as a professional player.