The R K Khanna stadium was bursting at the seams in anticipation of watching Rafael Nadal in action. The reception which the Spanish Davis Cup team received on its arrival on court was a spectacle to behold.
The tumultuous welcome could have easily given the Indian team a feeling, even for fleeting moments, of being on a foreign land during the World Group play-off tie here.
The euphoria, though, quickly turned into heartbreak for the thousands who had filled the stands an hour before the start of the match as Nadal pulled out of the opening singles. Such was the excitement sparked by the presence of the tennis star that many who arrived late were left stranded outside.
The crowd, naturally disappointed on hearing Feliciano Lopez stepping in place of Nadal against Ramkumar Ramanathan, broke instantly into "We want Rafa!" chants. When he waved at them, the decibel levels reached a crescendo.
"He (Nadal) has been struggling with his wrists in the last 2-3 months. Over the week we knew it could be a possibility that I may have to play, so I was prepared," Lopez clarified later. "It's nothing serious. It's just the wrists and it's getting better and better."
The odd chant for Nadal was to be heard during the entire duration of Ramkumar's 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 1-6 defeat to Lopez, ranked 26 in the singles, but the madness slowly began to fade away, much like the evening sun, following the gutsy fight put up by the young Indian.
In the second singles, David Ferrer gave no such leeway to India's No 1 singles player Saketh Myneni with his fluent strokeplay and court-craft. The 137-ranked Myneni proved no match for World No 13 Ferrer who streamrolled the Indian 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 in an hour and a half to put Spain 2-0 ahead on the opening day.
Ramkumar, however, did his reputation no harm when he took a set off the experienced Lopez. The Spaniard had craftily eased to a two-set lead but slipped in the third to bring the home crowd to its feet.
As promised, the 21-year-old Indian went all out even as the Spaniard struggled to get the measure of the conditions. Regardless, he went about the business with ease, using his serve and backhand volley to good effect.
His defence was solid and he cut the pace of Ramkumar's strokes by slicing the ball effectively. All Lopez needed was a break in the fifth game which he achieved with a forehand down the line pass, to go up a set.
The second set brought no change in the fortunes for Ramkumar, with Lopez maintaining his touch game to comfortably close out the set with an ace.
By the third set, the famous Indian heat and humidity began to kick in. Lopez appeared to be in discomfort but it was Ramkumar who took the medical timeout after the fifth game. With Lopez struggling with his movement a bit, Ramkumar upped his game and broke the Spaniard in the eighth game with a stunning passing shot. As he served out the set, he had the crowd firmly behind him. Stung, Lopez returned with fervour, losing only a game in the fourth set to record the opening win for Spain.
The responsibility of keeping India alive in the tie now lies on the shoulders of Leander Paes, who will team up with Myneni in the doubles on Saturday. It will also be interesting to see whether Nadal would turn up for the doubles on Saturday. Lopez didn't rule out the possibility. "There is a good chance that he might play during the weekend," he said.![]( "Spain's Feliciano Lopez in action aganist India's Ramkumar Ramanathan during the Davis Cup World Group Play off singles match in New Delhi on Friday. PTI Photo")
The R K Khanna stadium was bursting at the seams in anticipation of watching Rafael Nadal in action. The reception which the Spanish Davis Cup team received on its arrival on court was a spectacle to behold.
The tumultuous welcome could have easily given the Indian team a feeling, even for fleeting moments, of being on a foreign land during the World Group play-off tie here.
The euphoria, though, quickly turned into heartbreak for the thousands who had filled the stands an hour before the start of the match as Nadal pulled out of the opening singles. Such was the excitement sparked by the presence of the tennis star that many who arrived late were left stranded outside.
The crowd, naturally disappointed on hearing Feliciano Lopez stepping in place of Nadal against Ramkumar Ramanathan, broke instantly into "We want Rafa!” chants. When he waved at them, the decibel levels reached a crescendo.
"He (Nadal) has been struggling with his wrists in the last 2-3 months. Over the week we knew it could be a possibility that I may have to play, so I was prepared,” Lopez clarified later. "It’s nothing serious. It’s just the wrists and it’s getting better and better.”
The odd chant for Nadal was to be heard during the entire duration of Ramkumar’s 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 1-6 defeat to Lopez, ranked 26 in the singles, but the madness slowly began to fade away, much like the evening sun, following the gutsy fight put up by the young Indian.
In the second singles, David Ferrer gave no such leeway to India’s No 1 singles player Saketh Myneni with his fluent strokeplay and court-craft. The 137-ranked Myneni proved no match for World No 13 Ferrer who streamrolled the Indian 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 in an hour and a half to put Spain 2-0 ahead on the opening day.
Ramkumar, however, did his reputation no harm when he took a set off the experienced Lopez. The Spaniard had craftily eased to a two-set lead but slipped in the third to bring the home crowd to its feet.
As promised, the 21-year-old Indian went all out even as the Spaniard struggled to get the measure of the conditions. Regardless, he went about the business with ease, using his serve and backhand volley to good effect.
His defence was solid and he cut the pace of Ramkumar’s strokes by slicing the ball effectively. All Lopez needed was a break in the fifth game which he achieved with a forehand down the line pass, to go up a set.
The second set brought no change in the fortunes for Ramkumar, with Lopez maintaining his touch game to comfortably close out the set with an ace.
By the third set, the famous Indian heat and humidity began to kick in. Lopez appeared to be in discomfort but it was Ramkumar who took the medical timeout after the fifth game. With Lopez struggling with his movement a bit, Ramkumar upped his game and broke the Spaniard in the eighth game with a stunning passing shot. As he served out the set, he had the crowd firmly behind him. Stung, Lopez returned with fervour, losing only a game in the fourth set to record the opening win for Spain.
The responsibility of keeping India alive in the tie now lies on the shoulders of Leander Paes, who will team up with Myneni in the doubles on Saturday. It will also be interesting to see whether Nadal would turn up for the doubles on Saturday. Lopez didn’t rule out the possibility. "There is a good chance that he might play during the weekend,” he said.
The tumultuous welcome could have easily given the Indian team a feeling, even for fleeting moments, of being on a foreign land during the World Group play-off tie here.
The euphoria, though, quickly turned into heartbreak for the thousands who had filled the stands an hour before the start of the match as Nadal pulled out of the opening singles. Such was the excitement sparked by the presence of the tennis star that many who arrived late were left stranded outside.
The crowd, naturally disappointed on hearing Feliciano Lopez stepping in place of Nadal against Ramkumar Ramanathan, broke instantly into "We want Rafa!" chants. When he waved at them, the decibel levels reached a crescendo.
"He (Nadal) has been struggling with his wrists in the last 2-3 months. Over the week we knew it could be a possibility that I may have to play, so I was prepared," Lopez clarified later. "It's nothing serious. It's just the wrists and it's getting better and better."
The odd chant for Nadal was to be heard during the entire duration of Ramkumar's 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 1-6 defeat to Lopez, ranked 26 in the singles, but the madness slowly began to fade away, much like the evening sun, following the gutsy fight put up by the young Indian.
In the second singles, David Ferrer gave no such leeway to India's No 1 singles player Saketh Myneni with his fluent strokeplay and court-craft. The 137-ranked Myneni proved no match for World No 13 Ferrer who streamrolled the Indian 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 in an hour and a half to put Spain 2-0 ahead on the opening day.
Ramkumar, however, did his reputation no harm when he took a set off the experienced Lopez. The Spaniard had craftily eased to a two-set lead but slipped in the third to bring the home crowd to its feet.
As promised, the 21-year-old Indian went all out even as the Spaniard struggled to get the measure of the conditions. Regardless, he went about the business with ease, using his serve and backhand volley to good effect.
His defence was solid and he cut the pace of Ramkumar's strokes by slicing the ball effectively. All Lopez needed was a break in the fifth game which he achieved with a forehand down the line pass, to go up a set.
The second set brought no change in the fortunes for Ramkumar, with Lopez maintaining his touch game to comfortably close out the set with an ace.
By the third set, the famous Indian heat and humidity began to kick in. Lopez appeared to be in discomfort but it was Ramkumar who took the medical timeout after the fifth game. With Lopez struggling with his movement a bit, Ramkumar upped his game and broke the Spaniard in the eighth game with a stunning passing shot. As he served out the set, he had the crowd firmly behind him. Stung, Lopez returned with fervour, losing only a game in the fourth set to record the opening win for Spain.
The responsibility of keeping India alive in the tie now lies on the shoulders of Leander Paes, who will team up with Myneni in the doubles on Saturday. It will also be interesting to see whether Nadal would turn up for the doubles on Saturday. Lopez didn't rule out the possibility. "There is a good chance that he might play during the weekend," he said.
The R K Khanna stadium was bursting at the seams in anticipation of watching Rafael Nadal in action. The reception which the Spanish Davis Cup team received on its arrival on court was a spectacle to behold.The tumultuous welcome could have easily given the Indian team a feeling, even for fleeting moments, of being on a foreign land during the World Group play-off tie here.
The euphoria, though, quickly turned into heartbreak for the thousands who had filled the stands an hour before the start of the match as Nadal pulled out of the opening singles. Such was the excitement sparked by the presence of the tennis star that many who arrived late were left stranded outside.
The crowd, naturally disappointed on hearing Feliciano Lopez stepping in place of Nadal against Ramkumar Ramanathan, broke instantly into "We want Rafa!” chants. When he waved at them, the decibel levels reached a crescendo.
"He (Nadal) has been struggling with his wrists in the last 2-3 months. Over the week we knew it could be a possibility that I may have to play, so I was prepared,” Lopez clarified later. "It’s nothing serious. It’s just the wrists and it’s getting better and better.”
The odd chant for Nadal was to be heard during the entire duration of Ramkumar’s 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 1-6 defeat to Lopez, ranked 26 in the singles, but the madness slowly began to fade away, much like the evening sun, following the gutsy fight put up by the young Indian.
In the second singles, David Ferrer gave no such leeway to India’s No 1 singles player Saketh Myneni with his fluent strokeplay and court-craft. The 137-ranked Myneni proved no match for World No 13 Ferrer who streamrolled the Indian 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 in an hour and a half to put Spain 2-0 ahead on the opening day.
Ramkumar, however, did his reputation no harm when he took a set off the experienced Lopez. The Spaniard had craftily eased to a two-set lead but slipped in the third to bring the home crowd to its feet.
As promised, the 21-year-old Indian went all out even as the Spaniard struggled to get the measure of the conditions. Regardless, he went about the business with ease, using his serve and backhand volley to good effect.
His defence was solid and he cut the pace of Ramkumar’s strokes by slicing the ball effectively. All Lopez needed was a break in the fifth game which he achieved with a forehand down the line pass, to go up a set.
The second set brought no change in the fortunes for Ramkumar, with Lopez maintaining his touch game to comfortably close out the set with an ace.
By the third set, the famous Indian heat and humidity began to kick in. Lopez appeared to be in discomfort but it was Ramkumar who took the medical timeout after the fifth game. With Lopez struggling with his movement a bit, Ramkumar upped his game and broke the Spaniard in the eighth game with a stunning passing shot. As he served out the set, he had the crowd firmly behind him. Stung, Lopez returned with fervour, losing only a game in the fourth set to record the opening win for Spain.
The responsibility of keeping India alive in the tie now lies on the shoulders of Leander Paes, who will team up with Myneni in the doubles on Saturday. It will also be interesting to see whether Nadal would turn up for the doubles on Saturday. Lopez didn’t rule out the possibility. "There is a good chance that he might play during the weekend,” he said.