Davis Cup: Rafael Nadal as life insurance
Spain is in the final of the first Davis Cup finals. The life insurance of the homeowners in the Caja Magica of Madrid is called Rafael Nadal. Playing number one in the world, there are also points for the Iberians. So also happened in the 2-1 semi-final victory of the Spaniard on Saturday night against Great Britain. The jack of all trades from Mallorca had, after won singles against Dan Evans, and ran as in the quarterfinals against Argentina, in all decisive doubles. On the side of Feliciano Lopez defeated the two veteran Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski 7: 6 (3), 7: 6 (8).
by Florian Heer
last edit: Nov 24, 2019, 11:33 am
By Florian Heer from Madrid
Roberto Bautista-Agut, Pablo Carreno-Busta, Feliciano Lopez and Marcel Granollers are the names that represent Spain next to Nadal this week at the "World Cup of Tennis". Their point yield, however, falls clear.
Bautista-Agut lost the opening match on Tuesday against a strong Andrey Rublev from Russia and contributed one point against the Croat Nikola Mektic before he had to leave after his father's death on Thursday. Carreno Busta left the field only in one of his last five appearances in the Davis Cup. The 28-year-old Asturian also lost out in the quarter-final against Argentina's Guido Pella.
Carreno Busta, earmarked for the first single against Great Britain, dropped out 10 minutes before the start of the match and Spain's captain Sergi Bruguera sent Feliciano Lopez into the race. The 38-year-old from Toledo, now Tournament Director of the ATP Masters 1000 Events in Madrid, had no chance against a fearless Kyle Edmund.
Nadal as point guarantor
So it was again Nadal, the chestnuts for the Iberians to get out of the fire. Nadal beat Daniel Evans 6-4, 6-0, earning his fourth singles this week, his 28th consecutive Davis Cup singles. After just a short break, the matador from Manacor was back on the field to flash his class again in the tie breaks of the doubles at the crucial points.
"It was not easy today. With the failures of Pablo and Marcel Granollers, who did not feel well, we had to find a solution, "said Nadal, who is known as a team player. "I get on very well with Feliciano. We have been friends for many years and that helps with the important moments on the pitch. "
Spain with many veterans
With the exception of Carreno Busta, all Spaniards who are in Madrid are over 30 years old. In the future, the Iberians will also have to bet on younger players. If you look at the ten Spaniards who are listed in the Top 100 of the ATP World Ranking, it is noticeable that only half are still Twens. 22-year-old Jaume Munar in 86th place and Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina, two years younger, a position behind it, are the only two representatives of the so-called Next gene.
With the experience of the current team, it is now time for Spain in the 10th Davis Cup final. Winning the joke as the "ugliest salad bowl in the world" in front of a home crowd for the sixth time could be the last big coup of this generation.
Nadal ahead of fourth Davis Cup final
Nadal is a child of the Davis Cup, whose star opened with the final win against the United States in 2004 in Seville, when the then 19-year-old Andy Roddick could wrestle in four sets. In 2009 and 2011 he contributed to the title wins in the playoffs against the Czech Republic and Argentina with two wins.
Nadal will again play a key role against the Canadian two-man team consisting of Denis Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil.