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Nadal: "Feli, if you get us even, I will get us the tie"

by Domingo Perez
www.abc.es
February 9, 2025

Versi�n Espa�ol

The whole team was convinced that, should it come to a 2-2, in the decisive match Nadal would win. It seems incredible, but the captains and even the most "veteran" players had a blind faith in a 17 y/o kid. And the boy has them in his pockets because of his human and professional qualities.

BRNO. Feliciano had secured the 2-2 and in the Press zone improvised a chat with the journalists while Rafael Nadal was warming up minutes before his decisive match against Radek Stepanek.. The Toledo-born was happy. He explained his sensations when he found out about Novak's injury. How his match against Berdych had gone. His satisfaction over his great work with the serve. Then they asked him: "What do you think Nadal will do?" He didn't doubt it. "I am sure he will win" The guy has them all cajoled in this tie. But some days ago, Jordi Arrese himself vaticinated: "If we get to a 2-2 on Sunday, we will surely win." The other captains, Avenda�o and Perlas, spoke along those same lines.

They arrived in Brno a week ago and from the first practises on Nadal decomposed all plans. He beat everyone in the practises and already on the Tuesday the captains had decided that he would open and close the tie, playing the doubles in between with Robredo. They gave him an important role that he assumed with incredible naturalness, but at the same time accepting his role as a rookie off court. Robredo and Feli had fun with him as if he were their smaller brother.

He has brought to the event a contagious eagerness, almost childlike, a limitless confidence not only in his own abilities, but in those of all of the collective. He has a team spirit like no one else and has swept them all along. One anecdote illustrates this situation: Feli explained it: "I was in the locker room when Arrese came running in, shouting: "There's news! Novak is not playing!" Then he explained that we shouldn't change the schedule of play that we had. That I was to go out and do the same against Berdych.... Well there I went on preparing the match and when I was ready to go outside, Rafa came and told me, very seriously: "Feli, you win this match, and I'll win us the tie." He left me petrified by such confidence."

I remember those who are not here.

Such cheek may surprise in a boy this young, and more so that the others don't hold it against him. But Feliciano, like the rest, knows: "It can not annoy us cause that is how he is. He is very spontaneous. He always says what goes on in his head and he doe not beat about the bush."

As authentic as he was when he threw himself to the floor, on his back, to celebrate the last point of the event. This gesture unloosened the happiness of the selection. The whole bench was hugging each other. Nadal, after shaking hands with Stepanek, went to the group that was forming on the court. He went through everybody's arms while others shouted the war cry of this tie: "Y eso..." (meaning And this...) and imitated the gestures of �Pantoja de Puerto Rico�, who has become a bit of the muse of this event. Jokes, winks and humorous quotes about this colourful figure in television were repeated during the whole week by all of the expedition..

Later on, more seriously, the Manacor-born's first words were to dedicate the win to "Moy� and Ferrero, who could not be here. I hope they will recuperate soon so that we can all be together in the next round."

He was not going to spend a lot of words on his feat. "It was always like this. Ever since I was twelve years of age, in European and World [tournaments], I loved playing the last point, the decisive one.... Man, this was a bit different because the Davis Cup is something immense, but I was sure I was going to win. I must admit "it was very enjoyable and this has been the most important win of my career."