Can Spain make it two team-competition titles in two months?
The reigning Davis Cup champions are still alive at the inaugural ATP Cup, but they were on life support for a moment during Friday’s quarterfinals against Belgium.
After Roberto Bautista Agut cruised past Kimmer Coppejans 6-1, 6-4 in the opening rubber, the Spaniards had a golden chance to finish the tie in swift fashion with Rafael Nadal playing the second leg. David Goffin, however, had other ideas. The underdog Belgian pulled off a 6-4, 7-6(3) surprise to extend the tie to a decisive doubles rubber.
With momentum in hand, the Belgians watched their doubles duo of Joran Vliegen and Sander Gille race to a set advantage over Nadal and Pablo Carreno Busta. Vliegen and Gille even got a look at two break points in the eighth game of the second set for what would commanding lead at Spain’s expense. Both were saved, however, and the Nadal-Carreno Busta pairing eventually earned a break of their own at 5-5 on a video review overrule at 0-40. From there it was all Spain, which soon capped off a 6-7(7), 7-5, 10-7 comeback.
“Coming from Perth we didn’t have a lot of time to adapt and today the conditions were very heavy with humidity,” Nadal explained. “Playing against David in the singles was a very difficult thing. But we are super happy to be in the semifinals. We’re excited to play a very tough one against Australia. We will give our best like we have done all through our careers.”
The other semifinal will pit Serbia against Russia after Novak Djokovic led his nation to a defeat of Canada earlier on Friday. Djokovic outlasted Denis Shapovalov in a third-set tiebreaker, clinching the tie following Dusan Lajovic’s opening win against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
“It was an amazing match,” Djokovic assessed. “One of the closest matches I’ve played against Denis. It was very even match. He played fantastic, very aggressive, served great. We fought both until the last shot.”
These commies are just so shameless the way the we’re talking about the match. You could tell they were dying for Rafa to lose! Glad Rafa was able to get it done and show who’s boss!!
Rafa needs to rest and prepare for tomorrow. Must Rafa play Novak tomorrow, is it set?!
Vamos, Rafa!
Yeah Rafa would have to play Djokovic as they’re the two highest ranked players. Only way it wouldn’t happen is if one pulled out of the tie completely.
More great matches f the ATP Cup….vamos Rafa!!!!
Thanks Scoot! Appreciate the support. 🙂
Wooohoooo! Big grats to Spain!!! Rafa, of course, but RBA did just great taking down the dreaded NK! So glad Rafa does not have to play the doubles today. Loved what RBA said “I just made sure Kyrgios had to play every point. Spain is used to coming to matches tired and having to play.” (Not an exact quote but he said words to that effect). I was worried about Rafa and The Demon too, he’s not an easy opponent for a guy who’s struggling with the heat and humidity but it looks like Rafa actually outlasted him!
I just woke up so now I’m going to go watch the matches! Will be a happy day. I’ll worry about Serbia later. 🙂
Spain is really a great team, despite all the travelling, bad scheduling, they still come through to reach the final.
It’s no. 1 vs no. 2 in the final, they live up to expectations as the top two teams, well done to both teams. If Fed and Wawa are playing, it may make it even more interesting.
Vamos Agut and Rafa for tomorrow.
Fed is really not much of a team competition guy, is he. Odd that he’s the one that started the Laver Cup. Maybe he just wanted an excuse to hang with Rafa for a week every year! Eh, I’m probably being a bit unfair. Fed and Wawa aren’t young, maybe they thought ATP Cup wouldn’t be good prep for the AO for them. Fed just doesn’t LOVE team play the way that Rafa does.
Rafa’s full post-match press conference:
https://youtu.be/9laEwg1Qzh8
This article contains some of Rafa’s quotes from his press conference:
https://www.atptour.com/en/news/australia-spain-atp-cup-2020-sf
Thanks for the links. Rafa’s pressers are almost always interesting.
Ramara AT 10:57 AM,
🙂