man.libredirecto.com
January 20, 2025

Versi�n Espa�ol

Rafael Nadal from Manacor remarked today, after making Czech Michael Tabara bow out with 6-1, 6-2 and 6-2, that he feels to have enough morale and capacity to be called for the next Davis Cup tie against the Czech Republic in Brno.

"The captains have half decided, but we don't know" said Nadal, "if I were to be called I'd go gladly, for I think I am able and I hope I can go, but it's complicated."

However, Nadal reasons that a singles post is as yet out of his range. "To enter the DC team and play singles you have to be in the world top five, because Ferrero and Moy� are 3 and 7 in the world and truth is, it's very complicated."

"I was very focused right from the beginning," said Nadal about his match against Tabara, "because I knew that after having played a good tournament in Auckland, getting to the finals, you start very relaxed, and I did, I felt like playing, I had a lot of confidence. I played very well in the first set and then he let go."

"In Madras I didn't play well in singles, it was the first week and also because I changed rackets, but then in Auckland I beat Schalken, #15 in the world, in the first round, and that gave me lots of confidence for the whole tournament. I really played a lot, but then I also played a lot before the season started off."

Now Nadal has the opportunity to play a return match to make up for the loss he suffered in Madras against Frenchman Thierry Ascione, his next opponent in Melbourne. "It will be complicated because I already lost against him over there, and if he beat Mantilla it means he is playing well" he said, but the idea of a third round match against Lleyton Hewitt gives him a boost. "It is something to be considered, cause I would really like to play here in Australia, and against Hewitt on center court."