A nerveless Rafael Nadal needed just one hour to level the tie for Spain against Argentina, easing past Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-2, to cancel out Guido Pella’s victory over Pablo Carreño Busta in the opening match of their Davis Cup quarter-final on Friday in Madrid.
I have been playing great. Great serve, played aggressive from the baseline, I had the breaks early in the sets and that helps.
Before the start of the tie, a moment of silence was observed in honour of Roberto Bautista Agut’s father, who passed away on Thursday. As the Spanish players lined up for the pre-tie ceremony, they left a space between them for their absent team-mate.
(LtoR) Spain’s captain Sergi Bruguera, Spain’s Rafael Nadal, Pablo Carreno of Spain, Spain’s Feliciano Lopez and Spain’s Marcel Granollers stand prior to the singles tennis match between Spain and Argentina at the Davis Cup Madrid Finals 2019 in Madrid on November 19, 2019. (Photo by Oscar Gonzalez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafael Nadal of Spain prior to the quarter final singles match between Argentina and Spain during Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain and Diego Schwartzman of Argentina poses for photo before their match during the Day 5 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafael Nadal of Spain during the quarter final singles match between Argentina and Spain during Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafael Nadal of Spain during the quarter final singles match between Argentina and Spain during Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafael Nadal of Spain during the quarter final singles match between Argentina and Spain during Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafa Nadal of Spain reacts during his quarter final match against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina on Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on during his quarter final match against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina on Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina in his quarter final match on Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafa Nadal of Spain reacts during his quarter final match against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina on Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafael Nadal of Spain during the quarter final singles match between Argentina and Spain during Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafa Nadal of Spain celebrates beating Diego Schwartzman of Argentina in his quarter final match on Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his winning after the quarter final singles match between Argentina and Spain during Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory after his match played against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina during the Day 5 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
Spain will make its second straight semifinal appearance after Rafa and Marcel Granollers defeated Máximo González and Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the decisive doubles match in front of a lively and vocal crowd at the Caja Mágica center court.
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on during his doubles match played with Marcel Granollers of Spain against Machi Gonzalez and Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during the Day 5 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 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 talks during his doubles match played against Machi Gonzalez and Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during the Day 5 of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Spain’s Rafael Nadal (L) return the ball to Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer and Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez during the doubles quarter-final tennis match between Argentina and Spain at the Davis Cup Madrid Finals 2019 in Madrid on November 22, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal (L) and Spain’s Marcel Granollers react during the doubles quarter-final tennis match against Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer and Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez at the Davis Cup Madrid Finals 2019 in Madrid on November 22, 2019. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates during his doubles quarter finals match against Maximo Gonzalez and Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 22: Rafael Nadal and Marcel Granollers of Spain in action during their doubles quarter finals match against Maximo Gonzalez and Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during Day Five of the 2019 Davis Cup at La Caja Magica on November 22, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
Source: Davis Cup Finals
MIX…..SLICE……SLIDE AND GLIDE…….BEAUTIFUL FITNESS …….BEAUTIFUL POWER DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) LOVE THE WAY YOU PLAY!!!!!!:) MAGICAL TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS !!!!!!!!!!:) XOXOXOXOXOXO
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) BEAUTIFUL SWIFT 1ST SET LEAD ….GREAT 6:4…..WE LOVE YOU AND LOVE YOUR POINT BY POINT PRECIOUS AND EXCITING PLAY!!!!!!:) LOVE YOUR SPEED AND NET MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS AND ENJOY EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!:)
XOXOXOXOXOXO
First set in the packet, Rafa 6/4👍👏🤗
Pocket, sorry for my typo.
UMPIRE MUST OVER RULE MISCALLS! HE IS ALLOWING WAY TOO MANY…..
GREAT YOU ARE CHALLENGING SWEETHEART!!:)
GO RAFA GO!!!!:) GORGEOUS 6……SIX BRIGHT SHINNING ACES !!!!!!!!!!:)
Nice to have RBA back supporting his teammates today ❤️
Rafa vs Dan Evans right now, a must win for Spain!
Vamos RAFA💪
GORGEOUS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!:) BEAUTIFUL PRECIOUS SERVE AND BEAUTIFUL 4….FOUR SHARP TIMELY ACES !!!!!!!!!!:) GO SWEETHEART GO YOU ARE SOLID OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!:) LOVE YOUR ENERGY AND BEAUTIFUL RETURNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!:) XOXOXOXOXOXO
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO AND TELL F TO PRETEND HE JUST WON HIS SINGLES ANF KEEP STRIDING FORWARD!!!!!….ENJOY SWEETHEART AND HAVE A GREAT DOUBLES W F!!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU XOXOXO
The passion, the fight and the steely determination oozes from every pore of Rafa. Enter Rafa to the rescue once again!
It’s always such a thrill to see Rafa playing so well and at the end of the year to boot. Who would have thought.
Great pictures of his wife in the moment cheering him on.
RAFA ROCKS HIS TEAM
I’m having terrible problems with the fact that it’s Great Britain v Spain in the semis 🙂 ! I suppose it means at least I’m guaranteed having someone to support in the final!
Rafa Rafa brilliant it was an execution in the singles,doubles exciting you are a joy to watch. 💜🇪🇸💜🇪🇸💜🇪🇸💜
All the best to RBA and his family, very sad.
Well done Rafa, great match. Good luck for today.
Feel sad for RBA.
Vamos Team Spain!
Good luck against Great Britain in the semis🍀
ENHORABUENA!!!! ADELANTE ERES UN VERDADERO LUCHADOR..ME ALEGRO D QUE ESTES CON NOSOTROS… VAMOSSSSSSS!!!!
Condolences to Bautista Agut, so sorry. Well done Rafa. Go Spain!
When is it going to be on the Tennis Channel so that I can watch. I’ve checked daily and it’s not on. I want to watch you win Rafa . So glad to hear that you are. Onward Champ..
Condolences to R B Agut ,Congratulations Rafa and the Spain team vamossssssssss champ 🇺🇸💪🎾❤️😘💪🎾❤️😘👍💪🎾❤️😘
Very poignant moment when the players honoured Roberto’s father with silence and respect .
Amazingly easy singles match and superb doubles , both teams players superb tennis. Bravo Rafa and Marcel .🇪🇸🌟🌟
BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS……FAVORITE PHOTO # 6…….😉
What station and time in the United States can we watch Nadal’s team and others play???
I am told something called Fox Sports 2 has some of the DC matches. I think it’s a channel you have to pay extra for.
I paid 4.99 Euro for each tie to watch Rafa and his teammates.
Me too. Fox Sports2 will broadcast the final on Sunday.
YB,
Is it free?
Condolences to R.B. Agut. Congratulations to Rafael and Spain. Enjoy the victory.🙂👍💪👏🤛🎾❤️
Half past midnight in Madrid and the doubles has just gone to a final set! How sad about Bautista Agut’s dad.
Condolences to Batista Agut.
Rafa, finding it difficult to cheer for Spain when your opponent is Britain. May the BEST team win. Will always love you personally. God bless. Have a very Happy Christmas and may 2020 be an amazing year for you.
Bravo Rafa!Eres una inspiración ! ❤️😘👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!:) 8….EIGHT….. BEAUTIFUL SHARP AND TIMELY ACES!!!!!!!!:) WI……WI…….WI…….AND CI…….CI……..CI…….SENIOR PRECIOUS SWEETHEART CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) WE WERE WATCHING YOUR MAGIC LIVE….SMILING…..ENJOYING…….CHEERING…..GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!:( YOU ARE GRACEFUL AND MIGHTY STRONG, CLASSY AND FEISTY ON ALL SURFACES!!!!!!!!:) INDOORS….OUTDOORS….A BRILLIANT TENNIS GENIUS!!!!!!!!!:) LOVED WATCHING YOUR PRECIOUS SWIFT VICTORIOUS MATCH…..WE WERE PICKING UP OUR SON NATANEL FROM COLLEGE….AND WATCHED IT AT HIS DORMS!!!!!:) THE ADORING MADRID CROWD LOVES YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR YOUR BELOVED COUNTRY SPAIN!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):) ENJOY YOUR WIN SWEETHEART AND ENJOY LOTS OF FUN PLAYING NEXT!!!!!:) WHAT A WAY. SWEETHEART TO END WITH SUCH CLEAN SHARP GORGEOUS ACE!!!!!!!!!!!!:) BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) VERY IMPRESSIVE YOUR ENTIRE PLAY AND YOUR PRECIOUS EFFECTIVE SERVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU AND SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM SPAIN!!!!!!!!:)
XOXOXOXOXO
Whats wrong with you that you have to shout? Are you craving attention?
SIMPLY EASIER ON THE EYES….PAY NO ATTENTION JUST ENJOY !:)
What are you doing here? Are you looking for attention 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻
VERY MOVING …MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
YOU ARE SO GOOD AT TIE BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
All capitals is NOT easier on the eyes. It’s much harder to read. I just skip your posts for that reason.