Spain failed to attain a very good lead to entrance of the house followers in Malaga, struggling the Davis Cup Finals quarter-final loss to the Netherlands. Rafael Nadal performed the final match of his profession within the first rubber, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-4.
Carlos Alcaraz stepped in and leveled the rating at 1-1 forward of the deciding doubles conflict. World no. 3 ousted Tallon Griekspoor 7-6, 6-3 in an hour and 25 minutes, enjoying for his teammate and legend and delivering a stable efficiency to maintain his nation alive.
Carlos returned to the courtroom alongside Marcel Granollers and skilled a good 7-6, 7-6 defeat, lacking an opportunity to maintain Spain within the competitors. The younger gun devoted his singles victory to his idol Rafael Nadal, praising his nice compatriot and his legacy.
Carlos Alcaraz, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Alcaraz tops Griekspoor on the day of Rafael Nadal’s retirement
Alcaraz felt the strain after Nadal’s loss and endured it in fashion. The house favourite bounced again from an early deficit within the opening set, reaching a tie break and bringing it house in fashion. Carlos served nicely within the second set and stored the strain on the opposite facet.
He grabbed an early break to manage the scoreboard and earn a win for his nation. The Spaniard performed extremely behind the primary serve, taking 28 of 29 factors after touchdown it in. Alcaraz dropped seven factors in his video games, shedding serve as soon as within the opener and protecting the strain on the opposite facet.
The Dutchman claimed 9 of 23 factors behind the second serve. He performed in opposition to 5 break factors and suffered two breaks, preventing nicely however ending on the shedding facet. Carlos discovered the best steadiness between the protection and attacking tennis, enjoying higher than in Paris and Turin.
Carlos Alcaraz, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Tallon confronted points within the first recreation of the encounter, losing recreation factors and protecting his opponent in rivalry. Griekspoor survived 4 deuces and held after Alcaraz’s error on the web, avoiding an early setback. Carlos fired a strong serve within the second recreation, locking the end result at 1-1.
The house favourite created a break probability within the third recreation, and the Dutchman denied it with an ace. World no. 3 held at love within the fourth recreation with a service winner earlier than going through points at 2-3. The Spaniard performed a poor service recreation, netting a forehand and shedding serve at like to fall 4-2 behind.
Alcaraz stored his composure and attacked on the return in recreation seven. He handed Griekspoor on the web and pulled the break again, returning to the optimistic facet after 27 minutes. Carlos landed a serve & volley combo within the eighth recreation, holding at love and leveling the rating at 4-4.
Tallon performed in opposition to a break level within the ninth recreation and erased it with a service winner, displaying clutch and staying on the optimistic facet. Alcaraz hit a stupendous volley within the tenth recreation and closed it with a service winner for 5-5 and extra drama.
Rafael Nadal & Carlos Alcaraz, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Griekspoor grabbed the eleventh recreation with a service winner, protecting the strain on the opposite facet. The Spaniard didn’t really feel it, offering a snug maintain and introducing a tie break. Carlos drew the rival’s mistake within the first level for a mini-break and a lift.
World no. 3 claimed two factors on serve and delivered two extra return factors for 5-0. The house favourite landed two service winners, wrapping up an ideal tie break and clinching the opener 7-6 in 51 minutes. Alcaraz served nicely within the second set, making a gift of one level and pressuring his rival.
The younger gun held at love within the first recreation and drew Griekspoor’s volley mistake in recreation two for a set and a break benefit. Carlos cemented the break with a service winner within the third recreation, extending his streak and transferring nearer to the end line. Tallon closed the fourth recreation at love and lowered the deficit.
Carlos Alcaraz & Tallon Griekspoor, Davis Cup Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
Nevertheless, Alcaraz mirrored that within the subsequent one with one other highly effective serve, opening a 4-1 hole and controlling the scoreboard. Tallon clinched the sixth recreation with a forehand winner, lowering the deficit to 4-2. Producing one good maintain after one other, the Spaniard landed a strong serve in recreation seven for 5-2.
Griekspoor served to remain within the match in recreation eight and painted an ace, extending the encounter and his possibilities. Carlos served for the win at 5-3 and delivered one other maintain at love, welcoming the rival’s backhand mistake and incomes a degree for Spain.
The four-time Main champion devoted the win to Rafael Nadal, honoring his nice compatriot on the day he retired from tennis.
