The Toledo opens the crucial series against Russia with a great victory against the world number five
MADRID, 28 (EUROPA PRESS)
Spanish tennis player Feliciano López came back (2-6, 6-3, 6-4) against Russian Andrey Rublev this Sunday at the start of the series between Spain and Russia for a place in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup 2021, an epic performance that Pablo Carreño will seek to finalize next against Daniil Medvedev.
The Toledo was again the choice of the Spanish captain, as in the first point of the tournament on Thursday against Ecuador. The company was much more demanding than that day and Rublev made that clear from the first games. The Russian dominated with his right hand and with a fairly correct serve, playing with the strength of the former.
On the other hand, the serve did not work for Feliciano and gave options to the double ‘break’ with which Rublev scored the first set. A couple of mistakes and the Spanish had the game uphill first of all a world number five. The Russian, who already shone in Madrid two years ago, gave the thrust of the first act in the fifth game.
With the push from the stands, ‘Feli’ found stability in his game and confidence to be adding points and heating up the service. The Toledo finished getting up with the ‘break’ in the sixth game and then saving three breaking balls to confirm it.
Feliciano pulled his grit and quality to save another delicate moment at the start of the third set and made Rublev feel the pressure he also suffered two years ago. At 40 years old and with five ‘Salad Bowls’, Feliciano then had two match points for the rest and a third, with his serve, which put the reigning champion on the way to the quarterfinals in Group A.
