A mild 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck Santiago, Chile, on Friday during a training session for the Spanish Davis Cup team, though the players and captain on the court remained entirely unaware of the tremor until officials alerted them afterwards, according to reports from EFE and Cadena SER.
The Tremor Strikes the Court Central Anita Lizana
The seismic event occurred as players Rafa Jódar and Jaume Munar were actively training on the main court at the Parque Deportivo Estadio Nacional in Santiago, as reported by Cadena SER. According to the Spanish Tennis Federation’s statements to EFE, the players and team captain David Ferrer were completely focused on the session and missed the physical sensation of the tremor entirely between shots. Other members of the traveling delegation, however, experienced the movement firsthand. Arantxa Parra, the team’s delegate, alongside television camera crews from Movistar Plus, observed the perimeter LED advertising boards sway around the court as the ground shifted.
Federation Officials Sound the Alarm
While the athletes on the clay remained oblivious to the movement, personnel located inside the compound’s administrative buildings felt the impact more clearly. Representatives from the International Tennis Federation (ITF), stationed in nearby offices, noticed structural vibrations along the walls and stepped out to check on the courts, according to EFE and Cadena SER. Despite the initial shock experienced by the administrative staff, the training session continued without interruption, and local authorities treated the moderate tremor as a routine occurrence.
Preparation Continues Ahead of World Group Clash
The Spanish team is in Santiago to prepare for the upcoming World Group second-round qualifying tie against Chile, scheduled to begin on Saturday. The squad features a roster featuring young prospects Rafa Jódar and Dani Mérida alongside veteran support, as noted in reports from EFE. Official checks following the earthquake confirmed that the 4.7-magnitude sismo caused zero structural damage to the venue facilities and left no members of the visiting or local delegations with injuries. The team wrapped up its final preparations on schedule as attention shifts squarely to Saturday’s opening matches.
What Comes Next in Santiago
The Spanish Davis Cup delegation will take to the court on Saturday for the opening day of competition in the second round of World Group qualifiers against Chile.
