Rafael Nadal, in his first match since announcing he would be retiring after the Davis Cup next month, lost 6-3, 6-3 to Carlos Alcaraz at the Six Kings Slam on Thursday.

Nadal is playing his penultimate tournament before retirement, falling to his young compatriot and setting the third-place clash with his greatest rival, Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz faced no break points and kept the pressure on the other side.

Nadal, meanwhile, lost 6-3 6-3 to compatriot Alcaraz a week after he announced his imminent retirement from the sport upon the culmination of next month’s Davis Cup finals in Malaga. While a routine victory for the younger man, Nadal was clearly the fan favourite.