Google News Roberto Bautista Agut: Pleasure and privilege to be on same team with Rafael Nadal
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 8087
Spanish tennis star Roberto Bautista Agut was happy that he and Pablo Carreno Busta were able to deliver for Spain against Australia in the absence of Rafael Nadal. On the opening day of the ATP Cup, Carreno Busta defeated John Millman 6-2 6-4 in the opening rubber, before Bautista Agut beat Alex de Minaur in three sets 4-6 6-4 6-4 to wrap up the victory for Spain.
Nadal, ranked at No. 2 in the world, pulled out of the Australia tie due to a sore back. "Everybody knows that to have Rafa on the team is a pleasure. It’s a privilege to be in the team with him. We can learn a lot of things staying around him.
He has been fighting 20 years in a row and we are there to complete the team, to be there and to fight. I think Pablo and I today did a great job," Bautista Agut said, per the ATP website.
Bautista Agut delivered against home favorite de Minaur
"It was a very tough match.
I never beat Alex before today, and I knew it was going to be a difficult match. He's a great player. He's very solid. He runs well. He's a great competitor, and well, it took me a while to get the rhythm of the match at the beginning of the first set,” said Bautista Agut.
“But I was turning around the rhythm, playing more aggressive, playing harder, and well, I think the match changed, and finally I could close the match playing very good tennis”. Carreno Busta's dominant win over Millman in the opening rubber put some pressure off Bautista Agut's back.
"Obviously it's very important to us to win the first match… Rafa couldn't play, so I am here to try to help my team,” said Carreno Busta. “Obviously the first match of the season is always difficult, but I think that I played really a good match, feeling very comfortable on court, so [I am] happy for the victory.
Of course now, [we need to] continue fighting, because they play at home and they're a really good team”.
