By Chris Oddo | Friday September 16, 2016
Feliciano Lopez stepped in for Rafael Nadal to help stake Spain to a 2-0 lead against India.
Photo Source: Davis Cup
Rafael Nadal is still not at 100 percent and as a result the Spaniard elected to play it safe and sit out Friday’s Davis Cup action against India in New Delhi. Nadal was replaced by Feliciano Lopez, who defeated Ramkumar Ramanathan in four sets. David Ferrer played the second rubber for Spain, defeating Saketh Myneni in straight sets to give Spain a 2-0 lead.
More: Del Potro Defeats Murray in Five-Hour Davis Cup Epic
Lopez said he knew Nadal was planning to exercise caution about the wrist and was prepared to step in.
“We knew during the week that I might play the tie instead of Rafa as he was not 100 per cent sure if he will be up to for the tie,” Lopez said according to The Times of India. “We spoke last night about it and till the last moment he was not 100 per cent sure. So I had an idea so it was not bothering me.” Lopez said there is a good chance that Nadal may play doubles with Marc Lopez on Saturday. Nadal was seen practicing later in the evening after Day 1’s rubbers had been concluded.
“Rafa has been struggling with his wrist for last 2-3 months, he did not want to take risk,” Lopez said. “We talked with the captain and decided it was the right decision that I should play. There is a good chance that he might play tomorrow either with Marc or with me.”
Some rumors had said that Nadal ruled himself out due to an upset stomach, but Lopez said that was not the case. “Rafa is okay, nothing serious. He did not have any stomach upset. He was playing in the US Open with the same wrist issue. It is getting better and better but still it is sometimes painful. We still have two days of competition. So he might play one of these days.”
The official Davis Cup website also stated that the cause of Nadal’s absence was his wrist, not stomach.
World Group Play-Offs
Australia, Japan, Belgium and Germany also moved ahead 2-0 on Friday. The winners of all eight World Group Play-Off ties will earn a spot in the World Group next year.
Here’s a rundown of Friday’s completed results:
Australia leads Slovakia 2-0 behind wins by Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic… Kei Nishikori sat out singles as Taro Daniel and Yoshihito Nishioka stake Japan to a 2-0 lead over Ukraine… Jan-Lennard Struff and Florian Mayer propelled Germany to a 2-0 lead over Poland… David Goffin and Steve Darcis sent Belgian fans home happy, as last year’s Davis Cup runner-ups are off to a 2-0 lead over Belgium… Uzbekistan and Switzerland are tied at 1-all and Russia and Kazakhstan had their rubbers cancelled due to rain… Canada and Chile are just underway in Halifax.