Marca.com
February 6, 2025

Espanol Version

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal regrets the loss to Czech Jiri Novak, saying it was due to: "little things" but recognized that the circumstances made his debut in Davis Cup rather complicated, "on a peculiar court, in a different country and against the number one opponent."

"I knew that making my debut here was not the best that could have happened to me. It is a court tailor-made for Novak, the number one Czech. And in an away tie." explained the Spanish player after having lost his first Davis Cup match by 7-6 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Nadal, an apparently quiet player and not easily disturbed, admits to having felt nervous at the beginning, "I was nervous at the beginning and that was clearly visible in the first games. After that I felt better. I played well and the match was decided by little things," explained the 17 y/o tennis player.

"The match was very difficult. On a court tailor-made for Novak. On this court he is a top ten player. Few players could have beaten him," continued Nadal.

Problems with Novak's serve.

For the Spanish tennis player, his opponent's serve, especially in the first set, complicated the match. "The way he was serving, especially in the first tie-break, there was little I could do," he explained.

"I thought I could win. I kept that faith until the last ball. I had faith in the match and I think the duel was very even. There were no great differences. I have faith in this tie despite everything," commented Nadal.

The Spanish tennis player denied the possibility his loss to Novak could have an effect on his doubles match. "Not at all. It is a loss and that's it. Besides, I am serving better now than I have been. I have confidence," added the player, who recognized that this encounter has nothing to do with the oneplayed in Auckland, where he clearly beat Novak.

"There it was different. With other circumstances. On a court that I could think on and control the game. Here I tried to get him to move but the speed of the ball was something I could not control." concluded Nadal.