Without Alcaraz, Spain pulls ex officio against Serbia

In the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, who paraded through La Fonteta during the presentation but who in the end chose to dose himself and reserve strength for the next series, Spain pulled out of the closet to beat Serbia in the opening of the group stage of the Davis Cup.

Number one appeared, but did not play and it was Albert Ramos (2-6, 7-6(5) and 7-5 against Laszlo Djere) and Roberto Bautista (7-6(5) and 7-6-(5) against Miomir Kecmanovic) who decided the first tie of the three that the team captained by Sergi Bruguera will play this week in Valencia.

Optimistic letter of presentation before the crossings against Canada (Friday) and South Korea (Sunday).

The overexertion made in New York, where he won his first Grand Slam and the readaptation of biorhythms to the time change finally forced Spain to reserve the new number one.

Alcaraz, the head of the most precocious circuit in history, posed smiling with the captain and the rest of his teammates, and for a while he occupied a place on the bench;

however, he and Bruguera came to the conclusion that it was not advisable to force.

The Murcian (19 years old) rested, supported from the sidelines and will intervene on Friday against Canada, led by Felix Augger-Aliassime.

He wanted to play, but physical reality rules.

He listened to the body.

The stands were left wanting.

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Spain rides the wave of Carlos Alcaraz

Despite his absence, Spain prevailed over Serbia, who missed Novak Djokovic very much.

The champion of 21 majors ruled out going to Valencia these days for a "personal matter" – his brother Djordje's wedding, as confirmed by his captain, Viktor Troiki – and the seasoned versions of Djere and Kecmanovic collided with the reliability of Ramos (34 years ) and Bautista (also 34).

The former knew how to navigate against the current and amend a delicate situation in the final set, 3-0 down from the start, while the latter managed and knew how to close a rough duel decided on a tiebreaker;

the Catalan invested 2h 59m, for the 2h 16m from Castellón.

Whatever the circumstance, Bautista is always there, never hiding.

Alcaraz's prudence, together with the last-minute absences of Pablo Carreño and Alejandro Davidovich – injured after their participation in the US Open – returned two Praetorians to the front row.

He overcame one, dominated the other.

Alcaraz celebrates a point during the Ramos match. PABLO MORANO (REUTERS)

“I have enjoyed playing at a very good level in this competition, which is not easy, but it has also been hard.

I have had more options than him to the rest.

At the end of the second set, the fatigue was noticeable a bit, but it was a match of a very high level”, Bautista told Movistar, always willing in a competition that has left him scars (11 wins and six losses on the record). ) and also an indelible mark;

His contribution in 2019 will not be forgotten, when he had to leave the concentration due to the death of his father and on his return he was decisive in raising the sixth Salad Bowl.

Ramos also responded this Wednesday, who had to regroup when he was in tow.

Some physical problems hampered Djere in the final stretch and triggered Bruguera's anger, interpreting that the Serb was trying to dirty the match and that the judge should not stop him.

"Don't sell me movies, this is very clear: it's a cramp," protested the preparer;

"You know it, I know it, he knows it and he knows it all over the world...".

From there, his player, a specialist on land, reacted.

“I started a little nervous, I couldn't find the sensations.

I have tried to harden the points as much as possible and in the end it has worked”, explained Ramos.

Now, Spain concentrates on sealing the pass against Canada on Friday, given that in last year's edition they failed to cross the barrier of the group stage.

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