It was the most effective of occasions, it was the worst of occasions.
In September of 2016, the then five-time champion Spain simply defeated India 5-0 over three days in a Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie on the Delhi Garden Tennis Affiliation (DLTA) advanced.
Why three days? Earlier than the format of the event was modified in 2019, a typical Davis Cup tie had two singles matches on a Friday adopted by a doubles conflict on Saturday and two reverse singles on Sunday and each rubber was a best-of-five units contest until the tie had been sealed earlier than the primary or the second reverse singles. In that case, the remaining video games could possibly be shortened to best-of-three units.
The sort of frenzy across the Spain fixture was uncommon for a house Davis Cup tie. The reason is Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard was a part of the star-studded visiting squad which additionally had Feliciano Lopez, David Ferrer and Marc Lopez with Conchita Martinez because the non-playing captain.
After greater than eight years, the identical venue is about to host one other Davis Cup tie however the opponent is Togo, an unknown and lower-ranked facet.
Ramkumar Ramanathan, who performed towards Spain in 2016, can also be part of the crew which faces Togo. “It’s at all times a privilege to play for the nation. And that too, enjoying towards Spain. All of us have been pondering that Rafa was going to point out up,” Ramkumar, at the moment ranked 406th within the ATP Rankings, advised Sportstar.
Ramkumar was alleged to face Nadal, a 14-time Main winner at the moment, within the opening singles however the Spaniard pulled out of the sport attributable to abdomen ache. “Then, (Feliciano) Lopez performed. Nonetheless, he was a High 30 participant. I assumed I performed match (Lopez received 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1). Simply ended up shedding however sure, they’re fond reminiscences. Nothing should purchase these moments. I nonetheless have good reminiscences from that match besides that I misplaced. But it surely was an awesome one week to 10 days for us and it brings again that feeling that that’s what we play for,” added the 30-year-old.
New Delhi: Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez with India’s Leander Paes and Saketh Myeni throughout the Davis Cup World Group Play off double match.
| Picture Credit score:
PTI
New Delhi: Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez with India’s Leander Paes and Saketh Myeni throughout the Davis Cup World Group Play off double match.
| Picture Credit score:
PTI
Followers of Nadal lastly received their cash’s price on the second day as he and Marc Lopez — the newly-crowned males’s doubles Olympic gold medallists — took down Indian tennis legend Leander Paes and younger Saketh Myneni 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4 to seal the win for Spain.
Anand Amritraj, member of the Indian Davis Cup groups which completed as runner-up in 1974 and 1987, was the non-playing captain of the facet towards Spain. The 73-year-old minced no phrases whereas reminiscing in regards to the tie towards Nadal and co.
“That was one of many two greatest groups we performed in our lives. As a participant, in 1987, after we went to Sweden to play within the remaining (Sweden received 5-0). One of many few occasions after we had no probability of profitable. We have been blissful to win a couple of units right here and there however we have been by no means going to win the match. Equally when the Spaniards got here right here in 2016, we realised we had no probability of profitable however it was a pleasure to have Nadal, Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez – three world-class gamers,” mentioned Amritraj.
“He (Nadal) was such an awesome man that he did each doable interview, mingled with the individuals, gave autographs, and many others. David Ferrer, who was ranked thirteenth on the planet, was utterly ignored as a result of Nadal was right here and I suppose the poor man was used to it. However he was an awesome assist. Their doubles crew was nice as properly. Truthfully, I don’t see it will occur once more within the close to future.”