Spain will play off for a Davis Cup semifinal berth in a live fifth rubber after Rafael Nadal levelled the tie against Germany at 2-2 on Sunday.
Rafa won 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to improve his career record against Alexander Zverev to 4-0.
After the match, Rafa said:
It was never going to be easy so I’m very happy to get an important victory for me and the team.
I’m very happy with my level, the first set was fantastic in such an important match.
It’s a great feeling and very unique to play here in front of my people. It was a great match for me in an unbelievable atmosphere.
Photo: Davis Cup
Spain’s Rafael Nadal points during his match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev during a World Group Quarter final Davis Cup tennis match between Spain and Germany at the bullring in Valencia, Spain, Sunday April 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Photo: Davis Cup
Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts after defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 during a World Group Quarter final Davis Cup tennis match between Spain and Germany at the bullring in Valencia, Spain, Sunday April 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Photo: Davis Cup
Photo: Davis Cup
Photo: Davis Cup
Photo: Davis Cup
VALENCIA, SPAIN – APRIL 08: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point against Alexander Zverev of Germany during day three of the Davis Cup World Group Quarter Final match between Spain and Germany at Plaza de Toros de Valencia on April 8, 2018 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
Tennis – Davis Cup – Quarter Final – Spain vs Germany – Plaza de Toros de Valencia, Valencia, Spain – April 8, 2018 Spain’s Rafael Nadal shakes hands with Germany’s Alexander Zverev after their match REUTERS/Heino Kalis
Tennis – Davis Cup – Quarter Final – Spain vs Germany – Plaza de Toros de Valencia, Valencia, Spain – April 8, 2018 Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Heino Kalis
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory in his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany during day three of the Davis Cup World Group Quarter Finals match between Spain and Germany at Plaza de Toros de Valencia on April 8, 2018 in Valencia, Spain (Photo by David Aliaga/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 during a World Group Quarter final Davis Cup tennis match between Spain and Germany at the bullring in Valencia, Spain, Sunday April 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Tennis – Davis Cup – Quarter Final – Spain vs Germany – Plaza de Toros de Valencia, Valencia, Spain – April 8, 2018 Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Heino Kalis
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates with Spain’s captain Sergi Bruguera after defeating Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 during a World Group Quarter final Davis Cup tennis match between Spain and Germany at the bullring in Valencia, Spain, Sunday April 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
Tennis – Davis Cup – Quarter Final – Spain vs Germany – Plaza de Toros de Valencia, Valencia, Spain – April 8, 2018 Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Heino Kalis
He has now won 104 of 106 best-of-five matches on clay and again set the record for the longest Davis Cup winning streak in combined singles and doubles rubbers with 24 matches in a row under his belt.
He has not lost a Davis Cup rubber since losing the doubles rubber in Spain’s 3-2 victory against Italy in the 2005 World Group play-offs. Also, Rafa hasn’t lost a Davis Cup singles rubber since defeat on debut in the competition to Jiri Novak in Spain’s 3-2 victory over Czech Republic in the 2004 World Group first round.
The fifth and deciding rubber to see which country advances to the semifinals of World Group will be between David Ferrer and Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Source: Davis Cup
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Rafael looked so spirited and happy to be back on court. Good luck for the season👊👏👍🏆❣️
Great job don Rafa vamossssssssssssss I’m so happy to see you playing again 🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍🏸🏸🏸❤️🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾
Of the 8 nations in the World Group quarterfinals the following made it to the semifinals:
USA [over Belgium]
France [over Italy]
Croatia [over Kazakhstan]
Spain vs Germany- in progress
Continued from previous post:
Spain [over Germany]
DAVID ROCKS THE DAVIS CUP
David has won the first and third sets in tiebreakers, both extremely close sets. On to set 4.
BRING IT ON DAVID, FOR RAFA AND FOR SPAIN
David and Kohlschreiber are now 2 sets each. Fifth set in progress and I’m hoping David can pull a win.
David vs Kohlschreiber
First set: 7(7) – 6(1)
2nd: 3-6
3rd: 7(7) – 6(4)
4th: 4-6
5th: 3-3
Teaser
Great job and well done. So glad to have you back.congratulations. wish there more games on clay like there is on hard courts. Bull is back.
Brilliant Rafa – Congrats 🎾💪🏼❤️
And Good luck to you David – Keep it up 😘🍀 VAMOOS!! 🤗👍🏻
Awesome superlative Rafa
What a delight! Rafa healthy and in a winning streak is a source of happyness.
WAMOS
Good job, Rafa! Over to you David!
The „King of clay“ is back. So happy for you <3
Thrilled for you Rafa. Get some rest to prepare for Monte-Carlo.
RAFA ROCKED DAVIS CUP
Congratulations to Rafa for his straight sets win over Alexendar Zverev. The pressure is now on to David Ferrer to win the deciding rubber.
Rafa played well although some signs of “rust” were evident but not enough to interfere with his win.
It is a joy to see him back on court.
Now on to Monte carlo.!!!
Beverley, Luigi Gatto interviewed Carlos Moyà yesterday [Saturday] at Rafa’s Academy stand in Valencia. Here’s what he had to say.
“He is a little bit les confident than last year because he is a player who thinks he needs many matches for rhythm, but I think a player like him needs less matches and do rather well physically. I have no doubts that if he doesn’t have any physical issue he will have a great season. I know the player Rafa is, the team he has but you have to go little by little.
At the beginning we thought he wouldn’t return in time for Davis, then that he would be ready for one match, now it will be two, but playing three would have been crazy. I think his maximum here are two.”
Stick to your guns Carlos. BRAVO for you.
RAFA ROCKS
Margo, I did read that interview but couldn’t remember where. I was so happy to see that Carlos
thought less matches and do well physically. It’s a path that Federer has taken for some time and I always thought Rafa would benefit by following the same.
It will be a mammoth undertaking to convince Rafa of this as he has steadfastly clung to the idea of lots of matches, excessive practices , throughout his entire career but perhaps now under the influence of Carlos he may gradually start to adapt to another way of thinking.
Here’s hoping.!!
Beverley, shame, shame for not posting it. [Joking 🤗]
I posted the interview because I am familiar with Gatto’s many articles on Rafa and have posted previous ones. He is fair in his writings even though I believe he is a Rafan. I was so happy when I read that interview.
Carlos has always expressed the same sentiment but in this interview he elaborated on what he wants for Rafa. As I have stated many times here, Rafa usually chooses his own path. As Rafa’s coach, Carlos does have an uphill battle; it shouldn’t be so, but how do you change life-long behavior overnight? I still found it worrisome that Rafa continued to play after his 2017 China injury.
In an earlier article a few days ago, Carlos did say one or two matches would help Rafa. In this article he was adamant about no more than two. I suspect Bruguera may have wanted Rafa to play doubles too. I am suspicious of Bruguera after he divulged he was calling Rafa EVERY DAY. Gimme a break!!! This also shows that just maybe Carlos is being respected as Rafa’s coach who only wants the best for Rafa.
I was surprised when Carlos, in an interview, stated that Rafa was not 100%, yet Rafa AND Bruguera were talking to the media about how great everything was going. That to me was a signal there were TWO Rafa camps and it can’t be that way. Rafa and Carlos have to speak in one voice as they are on the same team. Perhaps Rafa was trying to “convince” Carlos it should be done the “Rafa” way [playing more matches]. All speculation on my part but it had me thinking.
As you say, hopefully Carlos will be able to exert more influence over Rafa as time passes, sooner than later. I hope so. Who knows how much time Rafa has to continue delighting his fans and the world of tennis.
RAFA ROCKS
OLE OLE OLE Y OLÈEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! Sole es Rafa xk no hay palabras…TE QUEREMOSSSSSS!!!!!!