Spain and Alcaraz, facing a double option to dispel ghosts | Tennis | Sports

With the US Open episode over, glory for Jannik Sinner in New York, the Davis Cup is making a lightning-fast entrance into the calendar with the group stage, which Spain is entering after the slump of the last edition, in which it did not make the cut. At the head of the team captained by David Ferrer is Carlos Alcaraz, who was absent last year due to fatigue and who will try to get rid of the bad taste in his mouth from this summer, in which, strangely for him, he has not managed to find his best form. The Murcian attributes the setbacks of the tour to saturation, to the fact of having competed at full speed since May and not being able to catch his breath, but now he must get up again, feeling “well and motivated”, with the desire to clear his mind. The player from El Palmar will be the reference in Valencia, where the recent aftermath is negative: a year ago, an experience to forget.

In 2023, when the group stage integrated into the new format landed for the second time in the municipal pavilion of Fuente de San Luis, La Fonteta, the Spanish team failed to break the barrier towards the November Finals, immediately overthrown by the Czech Republic and Novak Djokovic’s Serbia, without any concession from either side. A sad week, that one. Now, the roster made up of Alcaraz, Roberto Bautista, Pablo Carreño, Pedro Martínez and Marcel Granollers —Rafa Jódar (17), US Open junior champion, recruited as sparring— looks up and sees a most thorny landscape, facing a real challenge. Three coconuts: Czech Republic again, today’s rival at the start (16.00, Movistar+), and two major powers like France and Australia; the first, a classic with ten Salad Bowls in the showcase, and the second has 28, having progressed last year to the final episode of the tournament, in which Canada prevailed.

“It is the most difficult group, we know that. Last year against the Czechs the result (0-3) was not what we expected, but every year is different and I trust the team. It will be difficult, we will go step by step, and I am confident. We are playing at home,” says Ferrer, who this time has counted on the commitment of Alcaraz and who, to accompany the young leader, has opted for the path of the old guard; three of the representatives —Granollers (38), Bautista (36) and Carreño (33)— are over thirty. The captain is aware of the importance of that second line and also of the doubles, for which he has a privileged actor, Granollers, current number one in the world with Horacio Zeballos. “With this format, the qualifiers are very tight, so probably the details will end up deciding the passage,” remarks the veteran Catalan player.

“That can help us, we have players with a lot of experience and who are good. Marcel is number one, and Roberto and Pablo have had injuries (both long-term), but they have match rhythm and are winners. You don’t train for that, you have it. And that makes us calm,” says the coach, who had a bitter start last year and is now confident of revenge. To do so, Alcaraz’s performance will be fundamental, the current reference after Rafael Nadal (38 years old) has ruled out competing between now and the end of the season, given that the Mallorcan has not set any goals. Without him as a flagship, Spain can now boast of the Murcian, who has had no respite in recent times and in the transition from New York to this competition that awaits, not too much either; he lost 13 days ago to the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp and now, again, more battle.

Approval to the track

“We are not very used to playing at home, so I am looking forward to feeling the affection of the people. I have not been able to play many qualifiers, and I am looking forward to it,” says Alcaraz, who entered a tie against Romania on the right foot two years ago in Marbella, and who later — a defeat against Auger-Aliassime and a narrow victory against Soonwoo Kwon — experienced the double reality of the Davis Cup, those extremes to which fatigue and the weight of responsibility usually lead. “Physically I have done a good job since I lost in New York, to be at an optimal level and be able to face what is coming. I played here two years ago, and this time I feel that the conditions are somewhat different; I like the court, it is a bit faster, I feel the ball great and I am confident,” he says optimistically, referring to a format that is always complicated, however, for the Spanish tennis player: long-lasting, and with a lot of effort, I am able to play in the best possible way.indoor.

In contrast, the Czechs – Tomas Machac (35th), Jiri Lehecka (37th), Jakub Mensik (67th), Vit Kopriva (143rd) and Adam Pavlasek (41st in doubles) – enjoy the special features of playing indoors. The French – Ugo Humbert (18th), Arthur Fils (25th), Arthur Rinderknech (58th), Pierre-Hugues Herbert (129th) and Édouard Roger-Vasselin (22nd in doubles) – also enjoy the setting, while the Australians have always been adept at speed. The latter will suffer the late withdrawal of their star, Alex de Minaur (11th), but Lleyton Hewitt has a block of guarantees, made up of Alexei Popyrin (24th) – recent executioner of Novak Djokovic in Flushing Meadows and champion in Montreal -, Jordan Thompson (29th), Thanasi Kokkinakis (78th) and a prominent duo who have just been crowned in the American Grand Slam, Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden.

Spain will therefore face a tough scenario. On the opening day, France and Australia faced each other, with the latter being superior after the third point went in their favour (2-1). “Both have great doubles, “And this is very important in the Davis Cup,” says Ferrer, who is satisfied with the surface. “It is a middle ground; two years ago it was slow and last year it was fast,” he says. “I have seen the team doing very well, with a very good atmosphere, which is fundamental. In that respect I am very calm. Many of them have played many matches this year, and in that respect I want to thank them,” the coach continues. Alcaraz, for example, has played 48 matches so far and took advantage of the break from the United States to La Fonteta to briefly recharge his batteries in Murcia and also to drop by the Monza circuit to watch Formula 1.

“I had very few days of rest, of disconnection, and also little time to prepare for the (North American) tour; I was not able to train as much as I would have liked to arrive there in the best possible shape. “It’s an experience from which I will learn to continue improving,” says the world number three. “These are things (being with friends and the car tour) that I wanted to do, but the schedule didn’t allow it. I wish I had continued in New York, of course, but you have to find time to relax a bit. I had two or three days that were good for me to calm down, but once I was calm, I thought that the best thing was to go back to training, give my best and get physically fit to have confidence on the track,” adds Alcaraz, a luxurious standard-bearer who is now looking to recover the spark lost during the summer.

Valencia is a good opportunity to forget a cloudy summer for him. It is also a good opportunity for Spain, which was shaken a year ago on this same stage. The Davis Cup is a double chance to heal.