Nadal loses to Botic in likely final match

Rafael Nadal bit his lower lip and his eyes scanned the stands as he stood alongside his Davis Cup teammates for Spain's national anthem Tuesday before what he - and everyone - knew might be the last match of his career, a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands.

- Agencies

There were no tears streaming down Nadal's cheeks, no outward sign of what this moment meant to the 22-time Grand Slam champion, even amid the roars of a sign and flag-toting crowd, mostly here for one player and one player only.

Nadal said beforehand that the emotions would need to wait, that this week was about attempting to claim one last title for his country, not about his impending retirement.