From one year to the next, a radical U-turn. Gone are the sadness and long faces of last season, when Spain, without the two assets that light it up today, was languishing at this point in the group stage, already falling off the cliff. The scene now is completely different, with work well completed and joy, with two victories in the first two series of the group stage and access to the Finals in Malaga —from 19 to 24 November— already assured. The 2-0 against France —the doubles have not yet been decided— returns David Ferrer’s team to the desired position and now it only remains to be seen in what condition they do so, first or second; the final match on Sunday against Australia (11.00), also with two victories in the locker, will decide. The Czechs and the French have fallen, with no chances left, and the moment clearly points to a 36-year-old Praetorian who, paradoxically, is making his way to the prize-winning event after a very complicated season, in which his fibula has forced him to overcome himself to regain his colour. Roberto Bautista’s comeback against Arthur Fils was superb (2-6, 7-5 and 6-3, in 2h 54m), and Carlos Alcaraz’s final stroke against Ugo Humbert was very accurate (double 6-3, in 1h 20m).
It was in 2019 when, after a tug-of-war of several years, Bautista finally reconciled with the competition. Then, under more than delicate circumstances, with the death of his father in the middle of the final phase, the Castellón native led the Spanish team’s sixth success and left a deep emotional mark on the Caja Mágica that lasts to this day. From then on, a lot of reliability – seven victories, with only one defeat – and a guarantee for the coach. It was so in his day for Sergi Bruguera and it is now for Ferrer, who when it came to making the list, first, and the choice to jump onto the court, later – Pedro Martínez (42nd) is above in the list ranking current—, there has been no doubt: Roberthe squire. With him to the end of the world, and let whatever has to happen, happen.
A formidable display of pride against Fils, who had half a victory in his hand and ended up smashing his racket in frustration. The Frenchman could not believe it, a house of cards. He ran out of fire and became daunted. He had two points for 4-1 and a 5-4 and serve in the second set, but he shrank. He hesitated and collapsed. He trapped himself. He registered up to eight unforced errors between one circumstance and another, from that possibility of sealing the pulse to the subsequent nosedive. And there Bautista was, all heart and all faith, to turn around a scenario that for a long time looked more than black, because his rival had unleashed and he could not stop the storm. Patience and more patience, head and more head. Resist and wait. The tactic of the good fisherman. He took cover on the baseline and as soon as the storm subsided a little, he counterattacked.
He simply trusted, he says. “I had rarely had that feeling of being beaten like that on a track. He [Fils] I was smashing the ball, playing like crazy, but David told me: ‘keep going, you’re going to have a chance. And I had it,” he admitted to the Movistar+ microphone. “It was very difficult, but with 5-4 it’s always hard to close out games, and from there [dos fallos y dos dobles faltas del galo] I have grown and gone further. In the third [break para 5-3] “My faith has changed. I threw a lot, I was very aggressive and I had the feeling that I was not going to lose anymore,” said the winner, who on the first day reduced Lehecka and this time knocked down another puncher. Pure poise and know-how.
Carlitos, “impeccable”
“The atmosphere of the Davis Cup helps you to give your all. Sometimes you fight until the end and you don’t succeed, and other times you do. I was bombarding myself, but I think my rivals feel the pressure because they know I’m going to be there until the last point,” he continued in the conference room, while Alcaraz was already battling Humbert in the second singles round. The latter (26 years old and 18th in the world) appeared as a considerable threat, taking into account his performance in the opening match against Alexei Popyrin and his connection with the Davis Cup; so far, five wins and one loss, but on this occasion he came up against the Alcaraz of the good days, much more inspired than in recent days; far from the limping version of the first day and the tennis player surrounded by doubts of the summer.
This time, seriousness, rhythm and good flow from the beginning, no oscillations or concessions against a growing opponent who he already defeated two months earlier at Wimbledon. It is never a good idea to face a left-handed player and also a server, as was the case, but the Murcian directed the duel with authority and after the recent haze, he got into shape. His shots recovered their neatness and his approach was much more sustained, very fast on his legs and in his maneuvers. If on Wednesday he gave one good and one bad against the Czech Tomas Machac, against Humbert he did not hesitate; not even against the Frenchman’s final revolt in the final stretch, four options of break in his favor. Firm and resounding, following the trail left by Bautista, Alcaraz sentenced him.
“After what Rober did, not giving up… It was a real lesson, a lot of people should learn from him, so I had to be very focused and it turned out impeccable,” concluded the rider from El Palmar.
