Page 22 - AT

A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 26 November 2019
Nadal, grieving Bautista Agut lead Spain to Davis Cup title

MADRID (AP) — Rafael Davis Cup title since debut-
Nadal gave all he had on ing in the competition in
the Caja Mágica center 1913.
court in Madrid. "I feel like we've really come
The top-ranked Spanish star really far as a team, as a
even admitted he risked nation," the 20-year-old
getting injured by play- Shapovalov said. "Definite-
ing eight matches — five ly we're super proud. Obvi-
singles, three doubles — in ously it sucks, sucks losing
six days at the Davis Cup Fi- in the finals. But I'm super
nals, the new World Cup of proud of everyone. We've
men's team tennis. put in 120% every single
Nadal won all his matches, day. It's amazing how far
leading Spain to its sixth Da- we've been able to come."
vis Cup with a victory over The Canadians eliminated
first-time finalist Canada on Italy and the United States
Sunday. in the group stage, and
But in Nadal's opinion, the Australia and Russia in the
only hero for Spain was knockout rounds.
grieving teammate Rober- The 19-year-old Auger-Ali-
to Bautista Agut. He sent assime lost to Bautista Agut
Spain on its way to victory while making his debut in
by winning the first singles Spain's Rafael Nadal, foreground, takes a selfie with fellow players and team staff posing with the this year's tournament. He
match on Sunday, three trophy after Spain defeated Canada 2-0 to win the Davis Cup final in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Nov. was coming off an ankle in-
days after the death of his 24, 2019. jury that had seen him side-
father. Associated Press lined through the group
"I've won the eight match- stage and the quarterfinals
es but the person who match, and was in tears you will do it again." been scheduled to face and semifinals.
was vital in this Davis Cup while speaking briefly to The 31-year-old Bautista Shapovalov and Vasek Canada came to Madrid
was Roberto," Nadal said. the crowd, which chanted Agut, No. 9 in the world, Pospisil in the now can- without Milos Raonic be-
"For me, what he did was his name. played as teammates Pab- celed doubles, although cause of a back injury.
something almost (super) "It was an amazing feeling lo Carreño Busta and Mar- Nadal was likely to play if Shapovalov and Vasek
human. I don't know how on the court today," said cel Granollers nursed inju- the title had been at stake. Pospisil were the only play-
to explain it. It will be an ex- Bautista Agut, who was the ries entering the final. Nadal played in the deci- ers who had competed un-
ample for the rest of my life. Spanish player lifting the "I had the opportunity to sive doubles on Friday and til Sunday.
He had to leave, then his cup in the title celebrations. play today because all the Saturday. Spain beat Russia and
dad died, then he came Bautista Agut's father died team and all the players Voted the tournament's Croatia in the group stage,
back and practiced with on Thursday — a day after did an unbelievable effort best player, Nadal sealed and Argentina and Britain
us yesterday, and today his son had defeated Niko- since the first day," Bautista the title with his 29th straight in the knockout rounds.
he was ready again to play la Mektic of Croatia — with Agut said. Davis Cup singles win, ignit- The new Davis Cup Finals is
at a very high level. It was his health deteriorating Nadal considered himself ing the home crowd's cele- the result of a 25-year part-
something incredible." quickly after an illness that lucky to be able to play all brations. Tournament orga- nership between the Inter-
Before Nadal defeated De- stemmed from a 2016 ac- matches. nizer and Barcelona soccer national Tennis Federation
nis Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6 (7) cident. "It's true that I held up, but star Gerard Piqué, his wife and the Kosmos group co-
to clinch the title — Spain's It was Nadal who had tears we know that playing so Shakira — who performed founded by Piqué. For the
first since also winning at in his eyes when Bautista many matches in this (hard in the closing ceremony first time, 18 nations played
home in 2011 — Bautista Agut thanked him for his court) surface is risky for me, — and Spanish King Felipe in the same venue in a sin-
Agut had given Spain a efforts during the tourna- something can happen VI were among those cel- gle week, instead of head-
1-0 lead by beating Félix ment. at any time," Nadal said. ebrating Spain's triumph. to-head matches that used
Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (3), 6-3. "You gave us goosebumps "That's how it's been in the Spain's other Davis Cup to take place over four
Bautista Agut pointed his all week, especially today," past, but luckily I held up." titles were in 2000, '04, '08, weekends throughout the
finger to the sky after win- Bautista Agut said. "Thank Spain's Marcel Granollers '09 and '11. year. The tournament re-
ning the final point in his you. I'm sure that next year and Feliciano López had Canada was seeking its first turns to Madrid next year.q

Austrian Olympic judo champ denies sexual assault of pupils

VIENNA (AP) — Two-time against their former coach He has also been charged bacher failed to show up in In 1988 in Seoul, South Ko-
Olympic judo champion in 2013. with the attempted assault court. rea, Seisenbacher became
Peter Seisenbacher of Aus- "Nothing has happened. of a 16-year-old pupil while His whereabouts were un- the first judoka to win gold
tria has denied the alleged Nobody has been at- at a training camp in Croa- known for months before at two consecutive Olym-
sexual assault of two young tacked," Seisenbacher's at- tia in 2001. he was arrested in Kyiv in pics, having also won in
girls he was coaching in the torney, Bernhard Lehofer, If found guilty, the 59-year- August 2017 but released 1984 in Los Angeles.
early 2000s. said. old Seisenbacher could from detention before As a coach, he helped
At the start of his trial on Seisenbacher is alleged face a prison term of up to Ukrainian authorities de- Georgia's Lasha Shavdatu-
Monday, Seisenbacher to have sexually assault- 10 years. cided on an extradition re- ashvili win gold in the men's
said: "I am not guilty." ed one of the girls in 1999, Initially the trial in a Vien- quest from Austria. 66-kilogram division at the
According to state pros- when she was 11, and then na regional criminal court He was again arrested 2012 London Olympics, and
ecutors, the alleged abuse abused her on multiple oc- was set to begin nearly when he tried to cross the led the Azerbaijan team
took place in Vienna be- casions until 2002. Also, he three years ago, but the Ukrainian-Polish border to two silver medals at the
tween 1999 and 2004. allegedly sexually assault- case was adjourned in De- with a fake passport three Rio de Janeiro Games four
The women filed charges ed a 13-year-old girl in 2004. cember 2016 after Seisen- months ago. years later.q