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Following another lazy morning, I ventured all the way to Mama Rosa for lunch, it being next door to where I'm staying!
For starters I had two Empanadas. These are little pies or pasties. I chose one with beef and the other with ham and cheese. This was followed by a proper gourmet burger with cheese and ham, plus fries. For dessert I enjoyed the apple crumble with fruit berry sauce. The whole meal was delicious and by the time I left the place was getting very busy with locals.
Then it was off to La Caja Magica for our Semi-Final clash with hosts Spain, and our first time on Centre Court.
MATCH ONE: KYLE EDMUND (69) v FELICIANO LOPEZ (62)
Serving first Kyle started with three aces on his way to a love game, then broke Lopez to 15. He went on to secure the first set 6-3.
In the second game Kyle faced his first mini crisis at 15-30, where Lopez had interrupted the rally and successfully challenged a call, and the Spanish fans sensed blood. Kyle kept his nerve and served out the game. In the tenth game Kyle faced a couple of set points which he saved with nerveless serving. The tie-break started with two mini breaks then Kyle took control and built a 6-1 lead. Lopez saved two match points with his serve then Kyle sealed the deal.
Result: Kyle Edmund bt Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 7-6(7-3)
Duration: 1:21
MATCH TWO: DAN EVANS (42) v RAFAEL NADAL (1)
A tough assignment for Dan against the world number 1 in front of his home crowd, but Dan can play without pressure. In the third game he took Rafa to 3 deuces. In the next game Dan had to save a break point then took the game with a great shot down the line. Dan's resistance held until serving at 4-5 when he suddenly found himself 0-40, thanks to a stunning backhand winner from Rafa. Dan saved 2 set points but Rafa took the third.
In the second game Dan was broken again. Broken again in the fourth game, can Dan avoid the bagel? Unfortunately not.
As expected, it's over to the doubles...
Result: Rafael Nadal bt Dan Evans 6-4, 6-0
Duration: 1:24
MATCH THREE: JAMIE MURRAY & NEIL SKUPSKI v FELICIANO LOPEZ & RAFAEL NADAL
In the fourth game, on the Skupski serve we faced a number of deuces and saved a break point before winning the game. With Rafa serving in the tenth game, the Brits held a break point but the Spanish held on. In the tie break the Spanish gained an early advantage which they added to for a 5-2 lead. The Brits pulled back a mini break but it wasn't enough to stop Spain taking the set.
In the fourth game the Brits had a sniff of a chance with a break point on Rafa's serve, but it was snuffed out. In the 12th game Lopez handed the Brits a set point with a badly miscued smash, but Rafa saved it with a shot down the line. So, we go into a second tie-break, and the atmosphere is really tense, the locals sensing it could go either way. At 3-3 in the breaker Neil intercepts Rafa's passing shot and the Brits have a mini break. Spain retrieve the break but the Brits fashion a couple of set points at 6-4. Lopez saved the first with a massive serve. On Neil's serve Rafa conjures up a magnificent pickup which ultimately saves the set. Another set point on Rafa's serve is saved and they create their first match point on Jamie's serve, which is missed with a Rafa miscue. Lopez's powerful return creates a second match point which is sealed with his serve.
Spain won the match and progress to the final, despite the British pair not dropping serve during the entire high quality and tense doubles.
Result: Feliciano Lopez & Rafael Nadal bt Jamie Murray & Neil Skupski 7-6(7-3), 7-6(10-8)
Duration: 2:08
Spain face Canada in tomorrow's final. With the massive home support against them, Canada will have their work cut out.
It's been a fascistic competition for Great Britain, and we were so close to the final. In the end the brilliance of Rafa and the, at times hostile, home support swung the tie in Spain's favour.
While I miss the fantastic atmosphere created by the old format in places like Glasgow, I think they new format has worked. Though there are some creases that need ironing out, not least of which are scheduling issues with one tie that didn't finish until 4:04 in the morning.
I will be back in Madrid next year to support GB again. Then, for it to be fair to all, in 2021 the finals will have to move to a different country, otherwise the home support will be giving Spain a continual massive advantage.
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