By Alberto Amalfi | Friday, March 4, 2022
Carlos Alcaraz swept Marius Copil 6-4, 6-3 in his Davis Cup debut to lift host Spain to a 2-0 lead over Romania in the Davis Cup Qualifier.
Photo credit: Getty
Carlos Alcaraz channeled anxiety into action in a superb Davis Cup debut.
Alcaraz swept Marius Copil 6-4, 6-3, staking host Spain to a 2-0 lead over Romania in the Davis Cup Qualifier on the red clay of the Puente Romano Club de Tenis in Marbella, Spain.
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Earlier, Roberto Bautista Agut converted four of five break points beating Gabi Adrian Boitan 6-3, 6-1 in the opener.
Bautista Agut's win took some pressure off Davis Cup debutant Alcaraz, who admitted he felt nerves but used a quick start to quell them.
"It has surprised me," Alcaraz said of Davis Cup pressure. "I've had nerves, but not more than usual. I started the match very well. Living an experience like Davis Cup helps you grow as a player and as a person."
Davis Cup Qualifiers continue on Saturday. Other results after Friday's opening day of play:
Netherlands 2, Canada 0
at Sportcampus Zuiderpark, The Hague, Netherlands
Indoor Clay
US Open quarterfinalist Botic Van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor both scored straight-sets winning putting host Netherlands in Control against a Canadian squad without Felix Auger-Aliassime, Denis Shapovalov or Milos Raonic.
Australia 1, Hungary 1
at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney, Australia
Outdoor Hard Court
Hungarian No. 1 Marton Fucsovics defeated Australian Open doubles champion Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-3 in two hours, 27 minutes to level for the visitors. Fucsovics saved four of eight break points. His victory came after Australia's Alex de Minaur topped Zsombor Piros 7-5, 6-2.