Alcaraz hands Spain Davis Cup lifeline: “I did it for Rafa”

Carlos Alcaraz beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (0) 6-3 to give Spain a lift at the Davis Cup, but most of all for his team mate Rafa Nadal - just as he promised after being eliminated last week in the ATP Finals in Turin (“Rafa’s farewell is more important than the tournament”).

The 21-year-old player, worthy heir to the winner of 22 Grand Slams, tied a tie in the Davis Cup Final 8 which will be decided in doubles. In principle, he will play it himself with Marcel Granollers, until a few days ago the number one in the specialty, against Wesley Koolhof, another expert, and Botic van de Zandschulp, Nadal’s executioner in the opening match. Carlos deserved personal recognition for the rage and tears he shed when losing the Olympic gold in Paris against Novak Djokovic. He owed it, too, to himself.

Considering what was at stake, it’s understandable that Alcaraz looked a little nervous in the opening games. He faced a big problem: either win to extend the tie or the team would go home. That explains why he had trouble finding his rhythm on a fairly fast court, which he is not particularly a big fan of. The alarm bells went off when Griekspoor bravely took the lead to go up 4-2.

Quick reaction

Although, immediately, the prodigy from El Palmar recovered the lost ground and took command of proceedings, to the delight of Nadal who had just left the press conference and was back on the sidelines to encourage him with his usual passion and intensity. The Balearic player, like the entire Armada bench, celebrated Carlos’s win in the tiebreaker (7-0).

Powerful and determined, and with his nerves calmed, the world number three got the better of Tallon, an opponent who has not been able to win even one set in five matches, although he had been just as close to doing so on other occasions. That was how Alcaraz’s second break came, thunderously cheered by the Carpena crowd. After the initial difficulties, it was a freeway for Carlos, relief for everyone, waves in the stands... and another life for the national team in a quick clash (85 minutes), which means energies will be preserved for facing the doubles.

Mission accomplished, Alcaraz said afterwards: “I started the match pretty well. It was just that I lost the focus a little bit - I missed some easy forehands and let him make the break so I just had to stay there. I tried to stay positive, I had my chances in my serves that I couldn’t take at the beginning but I knew I would get more chances. I’m really happy that I got it in two sets”.

Charly had earlier been in attendance to give Nadal some emotional support in his opener against Botic van de Zandschulp. “Obviously, I watched the whole match, you know, I had the chance to watch the first game here then I had to focus on my match.

“But yeah, it’s an emotional day but once you step on the court, you have to forget everything and try to show your best tennis. It’s the Davis Cup, it’s a really important tournament for me and for everyone. I tried to play my best tennis and get the win and give Spain a chance to qualify, and yeah, I did it for Rafa. let’s how it goes in the doubles, hopefully we’ll get a win”.