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Blow for tennis fans: No Rafa Nadal on day one of Davis Cup

  • India will face five-time champions Spain in the World Group Playoffs tie at New Delhi, starting Friday.
  • Rafael Nadal was replaced by teammate Feliciano Lopez to play the first rubber in the singles event.
  • Rafa's withdrawal has come as a huge upset for the crowd present in the stadium.
No Rafa Nadal on Day 1 of Davis Cup

Spain has nominated Feliciano Lopez instead of 14-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal for the singles rubber in the World Group Playoff tie against India on Friday.

 

While it is great news for India's Ramkumar Ramanathan, who was supposed to face him in the first rubber. 

 

The news came as a blow to Tennis enthusiasts across India, who travelled far just to get a glimpse of the Spanish legend, standing in a kilometre-long queue to reach the centre court of the RK Khanna Tennis Complex, New Delhi.

 

Nadal, who is Spain's Davis Cup team skipper, withdrew from the first rubber due to a bad stomach. Spain hopes for a speedy recovery so that Rafa will be available for the reverse singles rubber on Sunday. 

 

Interestingly, Ramanathan and Feliciano played for the same team in the Champions Tennis League (CTL). The duo played doubles for Bangalore Raptors in the tournament and the managed to give positive results.

 

Feliciano, the World No. 26, is definitely excited to face his CTL teammate and open the Davis Cup round for his country.

 

 

The second rubber of the India-Spain tie will be played between Saketh Myneni and World No. 13 David Ferrer in the singles event. It is an opportunity for Myneni to prove himself on home turf. His recent qualification for the main draw of the US Open will play as a confidence booster.

 

The two sides will play the doubles rubber tomorrow. India has decided to pair Saketh Myneni with their experienced player, Leander Paes, against the duo of Marc Lopez and Feliciano. The team can be changed an hour before the match.

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