Rafael Nadal has proven once again that being no. 1 in the world rankings is more than just owning numbers; it’s about securing country honors. Nadal triumphed over Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 Sunday, clinching Spain’s championship against Serbia in the Davis Cup’s first round of the series.
Spain was in the lead early on, with its star athlete placing the Spanish nation in solid lead even before David Ferrer defeated Viktor Troicki 6-0, 6-3, in final singles match, Spain earning a 4-1 win.
Djokovic, World’s No. 3, appeared to struggle with his play, his mediocre serves and errors on Terra Mitica’s outdoor clay prompting Spain to win its 15th straight home tie effortlessly. Spain will square off against Germany come July, while Serbia will have to fight another battle in the World Group playoff.
Djokovic was disappointed about the way he and his team played the game, saying that, “for various factors, it wasn’t good for us, it wasn’t nice to lose the way we did,” he said. “We just have to hope for the best draw come September”, a positive Djokovic asserts.
22-year-old Nadal, meanwhile, acknowledges that Djokovic’s game lacked the usual ferocity,”he committed more errors than usual,” Nadal said of his Serbian rival. With this victory Nadal’s impressive Davis Cup stats now boast of an 11:1 win-loss ratio.