Carlos Alcaraz’s greatest fanatics had flocked see the sector’s new top-ranked participant in his homecoming to Spain.
As a substitute, they witnessed Felix Auger-Aliassime beat their new idol sooner than staying at the tough court docket to safe a 2nd victory in doubles and lend a hand Canada rating a 2-1 dissatisfied win over Spain within the Davis Cup team section on Friday.
Alcaraz misplaced 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 to a very good Auger-Aliassime, who continued the partisan crowd and tilted the fit at Valencia his means after the 19-year-old Spaniard dug deep to assert the first-set tiebreaker.
Hoy he dado todo lo que tenía, pero se ha escapado por pequeños detalles! 🥲 Solo queda pensar en el domingo equipo! Vamos 🇪🇸! Queremos estar en las finales de Málaga! @DavisCup
📸 Getty Pictures percent.twitter.com/C7N78kz49t
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) September 16, 2022
“Felix is a beast. Bodily and mentally, Felix is among the best possible on this planet,” Alcaraz mentioned after his first fit since profitable the U.S. Open ultimate weekend to grow to be the youngest guy to upward push to the highest of the ATP ratings.
“I didn’t are available in excellent bodily situation,” he added. “It was once an excessively difficult day, however I’ve to mention congratulations to him as a result of he performed a fantastic sport.” Because the pavilion roared for Alcaraz, Auger-Aliassime coolly replied by means of surgically putting shot after shot precisely the place he sought after. He ruled on his serve with 16 aces and in the end broke Alcaraz past due in the second one set and two times within the 3rd.
“He’s the sector No. 1 and large credit score to him for that, however as of late I believe I used to be a bit of bit higher within the 3rd set,” the Thirteenth-ranked Auger-Aliassime mentioned.
“I wasn’t going to let my crew down with my combating spirit.” Roberto Bautista gave Spain the 1st level after he fought again for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win towards Vasek Pospisil.
With out a time to recuperate, Auger-Aliassime and Pospisil confirmed no signal of being worn down after they got here from at the back of to overcome Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martínez 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 within the decider.
Canada subsequent performs Serbia on Saturday whilst Spain faces South Korea on Sunday to decide which two advance to the quarterfinals in November within the southern Spanish town of Málaga.
Spain beat Serbia 3-0 on Wednesday whilst Alcaraz was once resting after jetting house from New York the place he gained his first Grand Slam singles name on Sunday after a grueling run that integrated 3 consecutive five-set victories.
Prior to the Davis Cup tie, Alcaraz was once busy signing autographs and posing for pictures after follow. He won the largest applause when the Spain crew was once introduced and he was once offered because the “new international No. 1.” After the fit, he didn’t focal point at the loss, however moderately the enjoyment he were given from being again house.
“I sought after to return again to Spain, I imply to percentage this second to be No. 1 and to be U.S. Open champion with all my folks,” Alcaraz mentioned.
After Spanish fanatics needed to keep up almost all evening to observe his fits on the U.S. Open because of the time distinction, this was once the 1st likelihood a lot of his supporters needed to watch him play at house since Would possibly when he gained the Madrid Open. Alcaraz beat Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev within the capital in what many noticed as Nadal passing the torch to his Spanish successor.
Crimson and yellow flags had been draped over railings on the pavilion, together with one with the title of Alcaraz’s house area, Murcia, painted in large black letters. Valencia, at the Mediterranean coast, is ready 2 1/2 hours north of Alcaraz’s place of origin of El Palmar, inhabitants 24,000.
Alcaraz had just one earlier assembly with Auger-Aliassime, on the 2021 U.S. Open quarterfinals when the Spaniard needed to retire because of damage. Whilst Alcaraz arrived from a tiring two weeks within the U.S., Auger-Aliassime performed singles and doubles on Tuesday to lend a hand Canada beat South Korea of their Davis Cup opener.
Not able to the touch Auger-Aliassime’s serve, Alcaraz summoned extra cheers from the stands, which integrated his oldsters. He pumped his fist towards captain Sergi Bruguera and private trainer Juan Carlos Ferrero after hard-won issues.
That proved sufficient for Alcaraz to eke out the first-set tiebreaker after Auger-Aliassime’s premature mistakes.
However Auger-Aliassime by no means misplaced the initiative. Canada captain Frank Dancevic jumped out of his court-side seat to cheer when Auger-Aliassime in any case broke Alcaraz past due in the second one set. The Canadian poured it on.
Additionally on Friday, the Netherlands complicated after beating Andy Murray’s Britain 2-1 in Glasgow. The end result additionally supposed america complicated from Team D.
Germany and Australia complicated from Team C after the Germans beat Belgium 2-1, whilst Italy defeated Argentina 2-1 in Bologna in Team A.
