alcaraz-spain

Carlos Alcaraz may have been forced to withdraw from the Davis Cup Finals due to injury, but that doesn't mean that he still isn't occupying the position of No. 1 cheerleader.

Alcaraz was tuned in for Spain's exciting 2-1 comeback against Czechia on Thursday from his couch after withdrawing from the competition as a result of a hamstring injury he suffered in his loss to Jannik Sinner in the final of the ATP Finals in Turin on Sunday.

Read more: Spain rallies past Czechia in decisive doubles match to reach Davis Cup semifinals

After Jakub Mensik beat Pablo Carreno Busta in the first match, Jaume Munar, who stepped in for Alcaraz in Spain's No. 1 position, defeated Jiri Lehecka for his first Davis Cup win to send the tie to a deciding doubles match.

In the final tilt, Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez edged Mensik and Tomas Machac in two tiebreaks to send Spain through to the semifinals for the first time since 2019. An inspired effort by Granollers and Martinez saw them save two set points in each set.

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Former world No. 4 and Spanish captain David Ferrer said over the weekend that the team was "sad" that Alcaraz was forced out of the event at the eleventh hour, but were still hoping to deliver despite now being one player short.

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"I trust to my team because I ensure that we will compete and we will have our chance to do a great week," he said.

Spain is bidding for its first Davis Cup title in six years.

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SPEECH: Carlos Alcaraz tells Jannik Sinner after ATP Finals loss, "I hope you will be ready for next year because I will be ready!"