Rafael Nadal’s Spain eased into the quarter-finals at the Davis Cup finals, beating a weakened Croatia to send the defending champions out of the event.
Roberto Bautista Agut scored the first point for Spain, beating Nikola Mektic 6-1, 6-3 in just 57 minutes of play. In the second match, Rafa defeated Borna Gojo 6-4, 6-3.
Our champ and Marcel Granollers beat Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic 6-3, 6-4 to complete a 3-0 victory over the Croatian pair.
“The start of yesterday was not perfect, but here we are – we found a way to win four matches in a row and that sent us through to the quarters, so we’re very happy,” said Rafa, before adding some praise for 21-year-old Gojo.
“He played well – very aggressive, very brave. I’m happy for the victory, of course. It was difficult to play a match against him because I didn’t know him, and he played well. He served well, it was huge, but it was a victory, and happy to be in the quarter-finals.”
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Hand of Rafa Nadal of Spain holds three tennis balls during his game against Borna Gojo of Croatia during Day Three of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
Rafa Nadal of Spain in action during his game against Borna Gojo of Croatia during Day Three of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain (Photo by Oscar Gonzalez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action during his game against Borna Gojo of Croatia during Day Three of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
Rafa Nadal of Spain in action during his game against Borna Gojo of Croatia during Day Three of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain (Photo by Oscar Gonzalez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action during his game against Borna Gojo of Croatia during Day Three of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Sebastian Nadal (L) and Maribel Nadal (R) attend Copa Davis Finals at Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Europa Press Entertainment/Europa Press via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action during his game against Borna Gojo of Croatia during Day Three of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on during his match played against Borna Gojo of Croatia during the Day 3 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action during his game against Borna Gojo of Croatia during Day Three of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates during his doubles match played with Marcel Granollers against Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic of Croatia during the Day 3 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafa Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory during his game against Borna Gojo of Croatia during Day Three of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory after his match played against Borna Gojo of Croatia during the Day 3 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory after his match played against Borna Gojo of Croatia during the Day 3 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal and Marcel Granollers of Spain in action during their doubles match played against Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic of Croatia during the Day 3 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain waits for action during his doubles match played with Marcel Granollers against Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic of Croatia during the Day 3 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal and Marcel Granollers of Spain looks to the Hawk eye during their doubles match played against Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic of Croatia during the Day 3 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on during his doubles match played with Marcel Granollers against Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic of Croatia during the Day 3 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Ilustration, Racket of Rafael Nadal of Spain while he waits for action during his doubles match played with Marcel Granollers against Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic of Croatia during the Day 3 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on during his doubles match played with Marcel Granollers against Ivan Dodig and Mate Pavic of Croatia during the Day 3 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafa Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory during his game against Borna Gojo of Croatia during Day Three of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
Source: Davis Cup Finals
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):) CONGRATULATIONS ON THE IMPRESSIVE HONOR OF BEING THE PLAYER OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!:) …….BEAUTIFUL HONOR!!!!!:) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE A GIFTED CHAMP AND THE ULTIMATE GOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) LOVE HOW YOUR TENNIS GENIUS AND POWER HELPS INSPIRE THE TEAM SPAIN!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):) GO RAFA GO!!!:) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TIME THIS EVENING AND A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!!!!!!:) IT WILL BE GREAT MATCH (ES) FOR YOU!!!!!!!:) ENJOY LOTS OF FUN AND KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) XOXOXOXOXOXO
Tennis is NOTHING without Rafa
Congrats for Rafa for securing the YE No 1 for the 5th time.
He is definitely the GOAT and a master on all surfaces.
VAMOS RAFA no 1 to all of us.
Wishing Rafa and Spain all the best in Davis Cup. And the best Christmas and New Year to Mr. and Mrs. Nadal with numerous victories in the year ahead. Love to all the Nadal family and friends.
Well done Rafa. All the best for the rest of the week and than take rest for 2020.
Vamos Rafa <3
Congratulations to Team Spain, into the quarterfinals👏
Happy to be back home watching Rafa and his teammates at the Davis Cup.
Good luck and Vamos🍀💪❤️
VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!:)
Vamos Champion
Stay Healthy and may you Have Many Victories in the Future. Proud of you
Vamos Champion
Stay Healthy and may you Have Many Victories in the Future. Proud of e
I love Rafa’s sneakers with the Spain colors. I don’t know how, after so many years, Nike comes up with such stylish clothing and sneakers for Rafa. Of course, Rafa not too shabby as the model either . . .!
Well don Rafa you are the best player in the world numbers one vamossssssssss good luck🇺🇸💪🎾😘❤️🇺🇸💪🎾😘❤️🇺🇸💪🎾😘❤️🏆
Nadel is the GOAT. Love him. Truly the King on all surfaces.