MADRID, November 24, 2019
Spain have clinched their sixth Davis Cup title by winning the inaugural Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals on Sunday. Rafael Nadal secured the second point for the host nation in front of a 12,500 capacity crowd inside the the Caja Magica, including Spanish King Felipe VI. The World No. 1 defeated Denis Shapovalov in the second singles rubber in two sets.
Nadal, who has not lost a Davis Cup singles tie since 2004, was in cruise mode right from the beginning and took the opening set in only 35 minutes. The longer the match lasted, the better Shapovalov found his rhythm. Nadal was more solid in the tie-break and converted his third championship point to secure a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory after one hour and 54 minutes when the young Canadian fired a forehand into the net.
¡España es el campeón de la #CopaDavis! 🏆
Rafael Nadal venció a Denis Shapovalov y le dio a su país la sexta Ensaladera de Plata de su historia
🇪🇸2️⃣🆚0️⃣🇨🇦 #CANESP #DavisCupMadridFinals pic.twitter.com/82CpaY6byT
— Copa Davis (@CopaDavis) November 24, 2019
“It has been an amazing week. A lot of things happened. Roberto’s father passed away, Marcel couldn’t move and Pablo got injured. I could not be happier. It has been an unforgettable moment in this amazing stadium, we can’t thank the crowd enough. Our team spirit prevails,” said Nadal, who improved to a 29-1 win-loss record in Davis Cup singles matches, and maintained his singles winning streak in the competition. He has not lost a Davis Cup singles match since falling to Jiri Novak on his debut in 2004.
Bautista Agut put Spain in front
Earlier in the day, Roberto Bautista Agut clinched the biggest victory of his Davis Cup career, producing a pitch-perfect performance to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(3), 6-3. It was his eighth match-win in Davis Cup action for Spain. The 31-year-old from Castellon became the 10th Spanish player to win a match in a Davis Cup final.
Canada recorded their best-ever Davis Cup performance this year. Their previous best results were reaching the semi-finals in both 1913 and 2013. Spain also won the title in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011.
🔝¡CAMPEONES😍!
La Selección Española #MAPFREtenis🇪🇸🎾 conquista su 6⃣º título de #CopaDavis 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
🏆2019
🥈2012
🏆2011
🏆2009
🏆2008
🏆2004
🥈2003
🏆2000
🥈1967
🥈1965#DavisCupMadridFinals #VamosEspaña #ConEllos @MAPFRE_ES pic.twitter.com/99AN9miF8K— Tenis España (@spaintenis) November 24, 2019
