By Alberto Amalfi | Thursday, September 15, 2016
"I am happy to be back. I had a tough two months and I am happy to be back where I want to be — on the tennis court," said Rafael Nadal.
Photo credit: AP
Rafael Nadal got his kicks in ahead of this weekend's Davis Cup tie against host India.
Riding a 22-match Davis Cup winning streak, Nadal aims to kick start Spain's return to the Davis Cup World Group.
More: Williams Sisters' Drug Records Hacked and Leaked
Nadal will open the World Group Playoff tie on Friday against India's Ramkumar Ramanathan on hard court in New Delhi's R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium.
The 21-year-old Ramanathan is ranked No. 203. Since losing in the semifinals of the Binghamton Challenger, he's dropped five of his last six matches, primarily at the Challenger and Futures levels.
"We have good team," Nadal told the media in India. "We have a team that really wants to be here and give their best. I think that a team like Spain should be in the World Group and that is why we are here."
David Ferrer will play No. 2 singles against 137th-ranked Saketh Myneni.
Roland Garros doubles champions Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez are scheduled to play Leander Paes and Myneni in Saturday's doubles.
Nadal, who will make his first Davis Cup appearance since leading Spain to a 5-0 sweep of Denmark in the 2015 Group I Quarterfinal, is set to play Myneni in Sunday's opening reverse singles. Ferrer will face Ramanathan in the final match of the best-of-five match tie.
Paes praised 14-time Grand Slam champion Nadal as a tennis teacher even to fellow pros.
"To come and watch a 14-time Grand Slam champion is unbelievable," Paes said. "For me even now, at this stage of my career, where I have played for 30 years, you can come out and watch what Rafa does and learn so much. You can learn about the footwork, about the power, the generation of shots, the follow through, the swing, the rituals after the practice."
The fourth-ranked Spaniard showed off his footwork before the draw ceremony.
Five-time Davis Cup champion Spain is facing India for the first time in 51 years. Nadal, who owns a 22-1 Davis Cup singles record, has not dropped a singles match in the international team competition since his debut as a 17-year-old.
Now, he's aiming to lead Spain back to the World Group.
"Excited to be back in India. I know these players have been practicing here but we will be ready for the confrontation," Nadal said. "I am happy to be back. I had a tough two months and I am happy to be back where I want to be — on the tennis court.
"I have been playing in the Davis Cup since I was 17. It is a special feeling to represent your country and there have been some great moments. We had some great success in this competition. It is always a special feeling to play for your country."