New Delhi: The fourteen-time Grand Slam winner Spain’s Rafael Nadal was on a mission to India – to help his team to enter the Davis Cup world group – and it was accomplished on Saturday night. Nadal along with his Rio Olympics gold medalist partner Marc Lopez defeated Leander Paes and Saketh Myneni 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4 in the doubles rubber to complete his mission.
“It was great to compete against him (Leander), it was a tough match. They played well but we are happy to have the victory and come back to the world group, that’s where we think we have to be with so many of our players being in the top 100. That’s was our goal and we did it. For us it was a very important, after two years being away from the World Group,” Nadal said after the double rubber.
“He (Leander) played a great match. It is a pleasure to play him here. He is one of the biggest stars of doubles and one of the best player in the history of the sport,” he added.
Nadal, who missed the first day play with fitness problems, was the showstopper of the night with the full house crowd cheering him on. Describing his experience in India, he said: “It is always special to play in a country where we don’t play too often. In India I have played in Chennai few years and then last year it was the Indian Premier Tennis League and then this year it was Davis Cup, the fans are passionate here and it is great for the players and good for our sport.”
Asked if he will play in the IPTL next year, Nadal said: “I’m playing IPTL but I don’t know if I am playing for India. That you have to ask Mahesh Bhupathi.”
About his goals, he said: “I want to try to qualify for the world tour finals and that is the goal for me.”
