Rafael Nadal bit his lower lip and his reddened eyes welled with tears 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.

Rafael Nadal’s remarkable 23-year career came to an end after Spain was eliminated by the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday. In emotional scenes, Nadal - playing in his final professional tennis event - watched with tears in his eyes while other tennis greats,

Nadal is best known for his immense Roland Garros record, but the tournament at which he is calling it a career stands above even that.