Spain is one win away from a return trip to the Davis Cup World Group heading into doubles action on Saturday. Fernando Verdasco and Rafael Nadal roll to singles wins on Friday to put the home team in front.
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) d. Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
Verdasco improved to 3-0 lifetime against Dolgopolov by kicking off the Spain vs. Ukraine Davis Cup playoffs tie with a four-set win on Friday afternoon in Madrid. The Spaniard needed two hours and 33 minutes to complete his comeback from a one-set deficit. It was Dolgopolov who got off to an impressive start, breaking twice in the first set without facing a break point on his own serve. Little separated the two players in the second. Verdasco won two more points than his opponent, but he saved one break point and capitalized on one of his three chances before serving it out at 5-4.
Sets three and four, however, were more straightforward for Verdasco. The world No. 33 generally held in far more routine fashion than Dolgopolov in the third even though it was decided by just one break. Verdasco closed it out at 5-4 then dropped only four points in his last four service games. Dolgopolov committed 14 unforced errors in the fourth to end his hopes of ever getting back on track in the match.
Rafael Nadal (ESP) d. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-0, 6-0, 6-4
Playing just four days after winning his second U.S. Open title, Nadal clearly had no interest in staying on the court any longer than necessary. The world No. 2 lost just four games and needed only one hour and 42 minutes to put Spain ahead of the Ukraine 2-0. Stakhovsky, who famously upset Roger Federer at Wimbledon this summer, did not even win a single game in the first two sets. He won a mere total of nine points in the entire second frame of play–six on serve and three on return.
Stakhovsky finally got on the scoreboard in set three, and he did so on four straight service occasions. The world No. 92 fought off five break points along the way, but Nadal finally converted his sixth chance of the set at 4-4 with a perfect passing shot. Nadal held easily one game later to wrap up the proceedings in style. The 13-time Grand Slam champion will team up with Marc Lopez on Saturday in hopes of clinching the tie and sending Spain to the 2014 World Group.
Spain win 3-0! Well done Rafa, now go home and rest, please. This means there’s no play tomorrow, right?
Thank goodness for that. Congratulations to the whole team.
Sad to see Argentinia go down the pan. Without Nalbandian or del Potro they didn’t stand much chance against the Czeks.
Nole is playing Raonic tomorrow……their first meeting ever.
So Rafa has done it again for his team. That wasn’t an easy match from the scoreline. The tennis channel has been televising Davis Cup matches, but if they did show Spain it must have been very early in the morning.
I want Rafa to just go home now and have a bit of a rest!
On vb I just read that for the picture taking after the match, Rafa could not bend his left knee. So he had to sit awkwardly without extending it.
This is why I did not want him doing this. I just hope the knee is okay.
I say it again, Rafa is not a machine.
NNY: I do wish you would give up bringing the Vamos Brigade ‘gloom and doom’ over here đ
More than likely he was just resting the knee because it was stiff after playing on clay two days in a row barely 72 hours after the USO.
DC has always been problematic for players who may have to switch in a matter of hours from one surface to another and back again. Not to mention the jet lag incurred if
long distance flights are involved for away matches.
ed,
I don’t consider it bringing over vamos brigade “doom and gloom”. They have been a good source of information many times in the past.
I have made my opinion clear about Rafa playing in Davis Cup. My personal opinion is not doom and gloom, it’s about respecting Rafa’s well being and health.
As I recall, Rafa fans were going crazy about the prospect of him playing at Cincy after Montreal. Some of the same people here who are jumping up and down about him playing Davis Cup. There seems to be a real disconnect. I thought Rafa should play at Cincy. He had been off for a while and was feeling good.
That picture says it all. If you don’t think that is something to be concerned about, then we just agree to disagree. I thought we were all about Rafa taking care of himself.
The doubles match was great stuff. Amazing Canada are 2:1 up against Serbia at this point. Popsi was already my new favourite amongst the younger bunch after Montreal and he has gone up even even further in my estimation. He more than pulled his weight today and was as cool as a cucumber serving for the match.
He was out of his league playing Djokovic yesterday but he could make it interesting against Tipsy. I think the limitations of Raonic’s game will be all too obvious up against Djokovic – not helped by the ankle injury he picked up yesterday.
Now you’re scaring me, NNY. Where did you read that? Link?
JCKNY,
I read it on a Rafa fan site, vamosbrigade. They are very well connected with some members who live in Spain, some even on Mallorca. They are not inclined to post anything that is speculative or not credible.
This is the comment posted by forum member ChrisL.
“During picture taking, team was crouching in front of group of fans gathered behind the net. Rafa couldn’t bend his left knee, tried to crouch on right with left extended, and finally ended up just stooped over. But still smiling. I hope he gets enough rest before he has to play again.”
Said picture is on the DC official site:
http://www.daviscup.com/en/news/latest-news.aspx
Yes, you can see Rafa having to extend his left leg in that picture. Exactly as was described on vb.
Here is the comment I referenced yesterday from Rafa’s doctor. This was posted on vb and the translation is by forum member malimeda.
Nadal has lost some weight after the American leg. Dr Cotorro explained on RNE [national radio] that humidity in NYC was brutal.
“I watched again the final (of the US Open), and on TV you can NOT appreciate the intensity and speed of the ball that we had experienced there; it was a brutal match.” – Dr Cotorro
There are also comments from Rafa talking about how changing surfaces is not ideal preparation for the upcoming hard court events in Shanghai and Beijing. Rafa also spoke about being tired after playing so much tennis since he came back.
If this costs him the chance to play at those tournaments and get the #1 ranking, then that will be very unfortunate. Rafa is human. He has been careful so schedule himself well this year. Playing this tournament right after the USO could turn out to be very costly to him.
Rafa said that he made a commitment and felt that he had to play. But it was clear that Rafa was not feeling all that great.
Now I am worried.
Thanks for the photo, NNY. Now I’m worried too. I hope it’s nothing serious and Rafa can get well with two weeks’ rest at home.
NYC actually wasn’t that humid or hot this summer except the one week heat wave early in the summer. The last few weeks were not that bad, but the humidity was probably a lot higher on court due to the bowl shape of Arthur Ash Stadium.
BTW, who besides me think Rafa has a good shot at being selected as the Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated at year-end? I thought he had a shot in 2010 and didn’t happen. SI seldom selects foreign athletes as the SOTY though. But Rafa’s year is extraordinary and the fact that this year is a comeback year for him makes it even more compelling.
Ricky is the person most likely to know about SOTY – he has direct links with SI and probably knows what the odds are.
Ok, Ricky, now this is a pick you have the inside information on. Don’t mess up. đ
JCKNY,
I hope that you don’t think I was trying to upset you for no reason. I am just bringing over information. That quote was from Rafa’s doctor. I do read on vb a good deal because some people there are well connected and can provide information from the Spanish web sites. They do a great job of translating.
For what it’s worth, many of them don’t seem to be overly concerned about Rafa playing in DC. Sometimes people there post comments about seeing Rafa limp during matches and it gets very upsetting. I am not one to stir up worry for no reason. I don’t believe in speculation and gratuitous negativity.
I made my feelings quite clear. I don’t like seeing Rafa push himself. The Spanish team is going to have to rely on others in the future. Rafa will not always be around to save them.
I care about Rafa. He has been through so much. I could see him playing one match, but not two.
Now I am being told not to bring over the doom and gloom. So whatever information I get from vb, I will keep to myself. I don’t need people telling me not to bring over reliable information. Don’t shoot the messenger!
Huh? I didn’t tell you not to bring over the doom and gloom. Thanks for the info. We all care about Rafa. No worry. I’ll place my faith in Rafa’s team to take care of him. Hopefully, he’ll be in good shape for Asia.
I was the culprit – I was teasing NNY a little bit because she clucks over Rafa like a mother hen but she misunderstood my comment.
NNY: Apologies if I trod on your corns! That comment was an Ed wind-up not a reprimand. You have to admit though this would not be the first time alarm bells have been rung on vb based on interpretation of what people have seen, rather than specific information, which later proved to be unfounded worries. I went on to suggest there could be a simple explanation for why Rafa was not bending his left knee.
Bear in mind he would have been asked to pose for that shot before he’d had time for any normal post match physiotherapy treatment and more than likely they had all been holding the squatting on their haunches pose for some minutes. If his knee was stiff or aching that position would be very uncomfortable with or without a gammy knee.
We have to believe that both Rafa and the team know what they are doing and are not going to take unnecessary risks with his rehabilitated knee.
#StormInATeacup
JCKNY,
First, I did not mean that remark to be directed at you. Sorry for the confusion.
ed,
What bothered me was that little emoticon you attached at the end. I did not appreciate that. However, what I posted was factual information from Rafa’s doctor. You should also know that there are strict rules on vb regarding any irresponsible and baseless speculation or rumors about Rafa’s health. They take that very seriously.
It’s true that sometimes people there will say that they saw Rafa limping during a match or on the court, or they saw him take some pills during a match. That was being said during the USO. But it can’t be baseless imaginary ramblings because the mods will crack down hard on any of that.
As I said, there are some vb members who even attended the DC matches. There were some who expressed the same concern I did about Rafa playing so soon after the USO. But I did not get a doom and gloom sense at all reading the comments.
I am merely expressing my concern for Rafa’s health. If you wish to characterize it as me being a mother hen, so be it. I have no problem with that. It’s how I feel. I know that Rafa has a commitment to the Spanish DC team. But he has his limits. It’s been a long road back, but it doesn’t mean that knee is healed and everything is roses and sunshine. Rafa still has pain, but it doesn’t limit his movement on the court.
I get frustrated defending myself at times. On TT, I was accused of not being a loyal enough Rafa fan merely because I supported Djoker on a specific issue. I don’t like being put in that position. Rafa fans have been extremely concerned with his schedule this year. As I said previously, some did not want him to play Cincy. I did not agree with that.
I am not happy that he had to play not one, but two, matches back-to-back just days after winning the USO. If you read Rafa’s own comments which were posted on vb, then you would realize that he wasn’t thrilled about having to change surfaces and play when he admitted to being tired. But he said that this was something he committed to doing and being the person that he is, he was going to fulfill it. So it’s not unreasonable for me or any other Rafa fan to express some concern.
I know that Rafa’s doctor is there and will do what is best for him. I am sure that he will get some physio and whatever treatment he needs to take care of the knee.
It’s unfortunate when a Rafa fan feels the need to defend their point of view regarding concern for Rafa’s well being. I want him to continue to play and do well in this sport. That’s all.
Nadal will not win SOTY
Care to explain why? đ It’s your gut feeling? Your inside info? Or there are other athletes more deserving?
NNY, I can understand your feelings because that is exactly how I feel. Please don’t stop bringing news from vb or posting your own feelings. Some fans just don’t want anyone to say anything negative even if it is a fact.
We don’t have to be in a fool’s paradise and believe Rafa’s knees are 100%. From his comments, it is clear that his knees weren’t 100% when he came back and they still aren’t. He has also said it seems awkward claiming his knees are not fine when he has had such great results. Reading between the lines, it means his knees still give him trouble. To back up this interpretation, he has also said, some days the pain is bad, some days it is bearable. But he is content as long as his knees allow him to be competitive.
Morons in the media keep declaring that as Rafa has no tape on his knee, it means Rafa is now 100% and he has “healthy knees”. I particularly hate that “healthy knees” as not only does it show blithe ignorance of Rafa’s knee problems but it makes it seem as if they are talking of livestock for sale.
All Rafa asks and by extension, all we ask is that the knees allow him to be competitive.
We also hope that Rafa does not overextend himself as he is known to have played h
“himself into the ground”.
Keep posting NNY, I enjoy your posts. You are an honest poster!
I go by Rafa’s facial expression. Does he look grim? It is bad news. Is he smiling? He isn’t that worried.
As he is smiling in that DC photo, I take it that not being able to bend his left knee on some days is a problem he has got used to and it still allows him to be competitive.
It probably accounts for how he played in the doubles.
holdserve,
Thanks for the kind words. I have known ed for a long time. We go way back. She has never been unkind or unfair to me. It’s also all right if we don’t always agree. That’s what it’s all about.
I am glad that at least you have the same concerns that I do regarding Rafa’s knee. I know what Davis Cup means to him. But I also know that there are limits to what he can do. He has given so much to the Spanish Davis Cup team. Others will have to step up in the future.
It’s not as though he has had a miracle cure and the knee is going to be perfect from now on. That’s not going to happen. In his own words Rafa expressed that switching to another surface is not good preparation for the next few hard court tournaments. He also said that he was tired. His doctor made that statement which was put up on vb.
I just don’t get why some Rafa fans were freaking out about him playing Cincy after coming back from another layoff and having won Montreal. I thought he seemed to be playing well, feeling good and ready to continue. But to have him play on clay just a few days after the USO final, did not seem like a good decision to me. Rafa will always honor his commitments. But I can’t help but feel concerned.
I also agree with you in disliking comments that Rafa’s knees are healthy. That’s just ignorant. It is like talking about a horse or something.
I am surprised to read your supportive comments, but grateful. I am just coming from a place of wanting Rafa to take good care of himself so that he can continue to play this brilliant tennis and accomplish his goals.
Thanks for pointing out that Rafa was smiling in that picture. It’s a good thing! Thanks for just understanding where I was coming from. That makes me feel better.
I don’t know about posting info from vb. It’s not my job. I don’t want to upset anyone.
NNY, I like posts which are intelligent and honest observations about tennis and of course about our Rafa. As ed pointed out, your posts have become really good after you felt yourself freed from troll attacks to which you were subject on tennistalk..
Please continue to make your honest observations and share your concerns here. Do not worry about upsetting anyone. You cannot please everyone so please yourself.