Sportinglife.com

February 4, 2025

Spain's teenage sensation Rafael Nadal says he's not worried by the responsibility resting on his young shoulders this weekend as Spain prepare to launch another Davis Cup campaign.

Injuries to Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero mean that at just 17 years and eight months, Nadal has been included in the team that will play in the Czech Republic in an attempt to go one stage further than last year.

The Spaniards were defeated in the final by Australia in 2003 as Lleyton Hewitt and company avenged the defeat inflicted on them by Spain in Barcelona three years before.

Nadal was present at the event as well - but on that occasion he was merely a flag bearer in the opening ceremony, an occasion the Mallorcan left-hander recalls vividly.

"I was a little nervous to be next to such famous players as Ferrero and Alex Corretja," he said.

"I have read in the press that I am the youngest Spanish player to play in the Davis Cup.

"I am prepared to play everything, the fact is that I feel very confident and I am not ruling out winning."

Nadal will be accompanied by Feliciano Lopez, who made his Davis Cup debut partnering Corretja in the doubles in Melbourne last year.

"We may lack experience but we will compensate for that with the exuberance of youth," added Nadal.

"The courts here may be faster than we expected and the ball hardly bounces, but I am in great form."