(AFP) – Rafael Nadal claimed the 25th consecutive singles win of his Davis Cup career against Karen Khachanov to help Spain to a 2-1 victory over Russia in their Group B opener.
Our champ came through a second-set tie-break to defeat Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(7). Spain fell behind after Roberto Bautista Agut was earlier beaten 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/0) by Andrey Rublev. Marcel Granollers and Feliciano Lopez completed the comeback victory with a 6-4 7-6(5) win over Khachanov and Rublev.
“The atmosphere was amazing,” said Rafa. Asked about the success of the competition so far, he added: “It is difficult to answer today. Let me wait until the tournament is over to have a clear and better opinion.
“The only negative in my opinion is we are just starting the last match and it’s 12.45am. That means big trouble for us the players and also for the people who have come to the stadium too, because tomorrow is a workday. It makes everything difficult.”
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafa Nadal of Spain enters the court prior to his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day two of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Detail of Rafa Nadal shoes prior to his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day two of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal, player of Spain Team, in action during his match played against Karen Khachanov, player of Russia Team, Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafa Nadal of Spain celebrates a point during his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day two of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during the Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafa Nadal (R) of Spain talks with captain of Spain Sergi Bruguera during Day two of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal, player of Spain Team, walks during his match played against Karen Khachanov, player of Russia Team, Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal serves the ball to Russia’s Karen Khachanov during the singles tennis match between Spain and Russia at the Davis Cup Madrid Finals 2019 in Madrid on November 19, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain, shoe detail, during his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during the Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action during his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day two of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates during the match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks up during his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day two of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on during his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day two of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action during his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day two of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Russia’s Karen Khachanov during the singles tennis match between Spain and Russia at the Davis Cup Madrid Finals 2019 in Madrid on November 19, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
November 19, 2019, Madrid, MADRID, SPAIN: Rafael Nadal, player of Spain Team, in action during his match played against Karen Khachanov, player of Russia Team, during Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. Tennis: Davis Cup – Day 2 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY – ZUMAa181 20191119zaaa181117 Copyright: xAFP7x
Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Russia’s Karen Khachanov during the singles tennis match between Spain and Russia at the Davis Cup Madrid Finals 2019 in Madrid on November 19, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates following victory in the match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates following victory in the match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafa Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory during his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day two of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafa Nadal of Spain celebrates a point during his match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day two of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal, player of Spain Team, celebrates the victory during his match played against Karen Khachanov, player of Russia Team, during the Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal, player of Spain Team, celebrates the victory during his match played against Karen Khachanov, player of Russia Team, during the Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates following victory in the match against Karen Khachanov of Russia during Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal, player of Spain Team, celebrates the victory during his match played against Karen Khachanov, player of Russia Team, during the Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 19: Rafael Nadal, player of Spain Team, celebrates the victory during his match played against Karen Khachanov, player of Russia Team, during the Day 2 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 19, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
Source: AFP
I hope not too many of the crowd have to leave early tonight – Rafa is playing the doubles match as well. Vamos!!
Lots of close, entertaining matches have been played. Good job Rafa. You got your team through to the QF.
Well done Rafa <3
Great to see a packed arena for the night matches. Well done Rafa. You smashed it. RBA fought really hard against Rublev, but was unlucky right at the end. Lopez and Gronolles saved the tie for Spain, even though it was so late into the night (or rather, the next morning).
Elizabeth, sorry you weren’t able to travel and i hope you’re feeling better. I agree with everything you and Setinthepast have said about the scheduling. The doubles didn’t finish until close to 2am local time – much too late for players and fans there. The WTF at the O2 had the same problem when it first started there in 2009 and they had to tweak the scheduling, so I’m sure organisers will do a similar thing at this tournament to ensure an earlier finish.
The new format is more demanding on players, but l think it makes for more exciting viewing. In the end, it’s all about getting the balance right for all concerned, especially for the players.
They only seem to allow minimum time for changeovers between the two sessions. I went to both the afternoon and evening sessions at the O2 on Saturday. You have to go out and come in again, which is fair enough because otherwise someone who’d only paid for the first session could just stay there, but, because the first doubles match was so long, they wouldn’t let us in for the evening session at 4:45 as they were supposed to. They only opened the doors at 5:15, when the evening session started at 6, so we didn’t get to see Dominic’s practice session, and people who weren’t at the front of the queue would have been pushed just to get through security, get in, get something to eat and drink, use the toilets etc before the evening session started at 6. And the first singles match was straight sets – it could have lasted another hour!
Elizabeth, hope you’re feeling better.
I hope the tournament learns from these problems and improves the timings to get things running more smoothly.
Vamos Champion
Rafa at his best in front of a big Spanish crowd. How they love him and no wonder as he gives everything for the entire match.
The late finish is crazy scheduling, not fair to players of to the public . Doubles so late .
Was to be in Madrid but due to an infection not able to travel , so disappointing but at least can watch on Eurosport . Annoying commentators but great to see Rafa in such form . Roberto played so well and it was a tough loss . Lopez and Granolles did well to win the doubles . Go Spain 🇪🇸
The timings were crazy. Rafa’s match didn’t finish until gone half 10 UK time, so gone half 11 in Spain. And it was straight sets: if Khachanov had won the 2nd set tiebreak, they could have been playing another hour. I assumed the doubles must have been the following day, but no, they played it straight afterwards! And other matches were going on as well. I know they like to split the afternoon and evening sessions so they can sell double the number of tickets, but it wasn’t really ideal.
Rafa congratulations well don champ vamosssssssssss all the way 🇺🇸💪🎾❤️😘🇺🇸💪🎾❤️😘👍
Ooops….team coach with you ( not Roig) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!:)
BEAUTIFUL MATCH PHOTOS AND OF YOU AND YOUR COACH ROIG!!!!!:) CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR VICTORY TODAY SWEETHEART AND ENJOY EVERYTHING!:) LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!:) XOXOXOXOXOXO
VAMOS SWEETHEART AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR VICTORY TODAY!!!!!!!!:) BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!:) ENJOY EVERYTHING!:)
You are so right Rafa