VALENCIA, April 4, 2018
Ahead of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinal against Germany, the Spanish Davis Cup team with World No. 1 Rafael Nadal met about 50 children during a promotional event on Tuesday. Nadal discussed his injury and his hope to return to competition this weekend inside the Plaza de Toros in Valencia.
“I hope to find myself without injury, that’s why I’m here,” told Nadal, who has been sidelined from the courts since the Australian Open in January. “It’s been a few tough months with a few injuries in a row. But I’m very excited to be back and returning to the competition surrounded by a team of colleagues and friends, always helps.
“And hopefully it’ll be a positive week for all.”
🎙Sergi Bruguera: “Rafa está entrenando muy bien, muy fuerte. Si está bien para jugar, jugará. Depende de las sensaciones que tenga él” pic.twitter.com/DmuivDvCAP
— Tenis España (@spaintenis) 4. April 2018
“Rafa is practicing very well, very strong. If he is good to play, he will play, it depends on the feeling he has. For the moment the plan we have this week is to train and go little by little,” Spain’s David Cup captain Sergi Bruguera commented.
“I have ideas in my head but I will decide at the last moment which players are going to play each match. It will be an extremely difficult tie and we need to be focused in every match.”
Zverev arrives in Valencia
Meanwhile, Germany’s top-ranked player, World No. 4 Alexander Zverev, who had finished runner-up to John Isner last weekend in Miami, arrived in Valencia the same day and seemed to be pretty impressed by the venue.
😳‼ Esta cara se le ha quedado a Sascha Zverev al entrar por primera vez en la Plaza de Toros de Valencia… Esto es #CopaDavis #ESPGER 🇪🇸🆚🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/D97dPeq3gL
— Copa Davis (@CopaDavis) 3. April 2018
Davis Cup captain Michael Kohlmann is looking forward to the tie: “The atmosphere in the team is great and I am confident that we will experience a positive weekend.”
The official draw ceremony will be held in Valencia’s city hall on Thursday at 1 pm.
