Spain defeated Croatia 3-0
Roberto Bautista Agut bt. Nikola Mektic 6-1 6-3
Rafael Nadal bt. Borna Gojo 6-4 6-3
M.Granollers/R.Nadal bt. I.Dodig/M.Pavic 6-3 6-4
Spain clinched their place in the quarter-finals as Roberto Bautista Agut and World No. 1 Rafael Nadal didn't drop a set against Croatia. Bautista Agut, World No. 9, dismissed Nikola Mektic 6-1, 6-3, and Nadal beat Borna Gojo 6-4, 6-3.
“The start of yesterday was not perfect, but here we are – we found a way to win four matches in a row and that sent us through to the quarters, so we’re very happy,” said Nadal, before adding some praise for 21-year-old Gojo.
“He played well – very aggressive, very brave. I’m happy for the victory, of course. It was difficult to play a match against him because I didn’t know him, and he played well. He served well, it was huge, but it was a victory, and happy to be in the quarter-finals.”
With victory assured, Nadal returned alongside Marcel Granollers to finish the tie in style with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mate Pavic and Ivan Dodig.
“You never know what’s going on in the future,” Nadal said of his decision to play both singles and doubles on Caja Mágica’s Centre Court. “I didn’t play doubles for the last year so for me it as important to at least have the feeling to play on court again. With Marcel things have been easier, and we played a good doubles.”
Spain will now face one of the two best-ranked second place sides at the end of the group stage, which will be determined after Thursday’s final set of group stage matches. (via Davis Cup)
• Rafael Nadal vs. Borna Gojo
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• Highlights
• Doubles match
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