by Richard Pagliaro
Tennis Week
February 5, 2025

At the tender age of 17, Rafael Nadal is barely old enough to qualify for a learner's permit in many countries, but the Spanish sensation has already earned a license to drive. The talented teenager makes his Davis Cup debut this weekend against the host Czech Republic and Nadal holds the key to a successful Spanish road trip.

In tomorrow's opening match, Nadal meets Czech Republic No. 1 Jiri Novak on the taraflex carpet court at the 5,000-seat Brno Exhibition Center in Brno, Czech Republic. The first match may well set the tone for the tie. In Friday's second match, Spanish No. 1 Tommy Robredo takes on Radek Stepanek. A depleted Spanish squad is playing without the two singles starters � second-ranked Juan Carlos Ferrero and seventh-ranked Carlos Moya � who played in its Davis Cup final loss to host Australia in December.

The 21-year-old Robredo and 40th-ranked Nadal are a two-man team as Spanish captain Jordi Arrese has selected them to play both singles and doubles. A Nadal victory in the first match is crucial and could provide Spain with confidence while quieting the Czech crowd.

"We really have a strong team and if Nadal beats Novak in the opening match that would be a great start," Robredo said. "Of course I feel better on clay but�the Czechs have chosen this surface because it suits Novak�s game especially and we have to try our best."

The opening match is a rematch of the Auckland semifinal that saw Nadal strike sizzling strokes to smoke Novak 6-1, 6-3 before falling to Dominik Hrbaty in the final.

"I have to ad mitt that he played a lot better in Auckland than I did," Novak said of Nadal. "But nowadays I am pretty satisfied with my game on taraflex. We decided for this surface because it suits us the best and the Spanish players don�t feel very good on it."

Though both players downplayed the significance of their only career meeting, the fact that it was a decisive result on a relatively fast surface would seem to favor Nadal. Unlike some Spanish players, who are stereotyped solely as a clay courters, Nadal's ability to adjust his strokes, shorten his swings and take the ball earlier makes him a threat on all surfaces. Last summer, he advanced to the third round of Wimbledon in his Grand Slam debut to become the youngest to reach the third round since 16-year-old Boris Becker in 1984.

Nadal's fast feet put him in position to get to many balls, his balance enables him to put his body weight behind most of shots and his rapid racquet head speed provides the power for him to stand toe-to-toe with older, stronger opponents in baseline exchanges. With victories over such current and former top 15 players as Moya, Novak and Sjeng Schalken and a solid showing against Lleyton Hewitt in a third-round loss at last month's Australian Open, Nadal is no novice when it comes to facing experienced opponents, yet he's well aware none of his previous professional experiences will prepare him for the pressures of Davis Cup play on the road.

"Novak plays at home and that�s better for him," Nadal said. "I can�t think about the Auckland match too much."

The 16th-ranked Novak has registered 21 of his 22 career Davis Cup victories indoors. Stepanek is winless in two Davis Cup matches. The 49th-ranked Stepanek, who would face Nadal in a potentially decisive fifth match on Sunday, said he will try to exploit Robredo's one-handed backhand in tomorrow's second singles match.

"I know that he covers the 80 percent of the court with his forehand. But I will give him no time to run for his forehand. I�ll give him a work-out," Stepanek said. "I can imagine playing this time for the decisive point in the fifth match."

Though Nadal and Robredo have combined to play precisely one Davis Cup match (Robredo lost his Davis Cup debut in straight sets to Andy Roddick in the 2002 quarterfinals staged on grass at Houston's Westside Tennis Club) and enter this tie as the underdog, should Nadal beat Novak in the opening match look for Spain to score an upset in the tie.

The winner of this tie will advance to the April 9-11th quarterfinals to meet either Canada or The Netherlands. To follow all the Davis Cup action this weekend, please visit the official Davis Cup web site.