World No 1 Rafael Nadal closed out his record-breaking year with one more trophy as he almost single-handedly powered Spain to a sixth Davis Cup title on Sunday. In the process, he won his 32nd straight Davis Cup match, a streak stretching back to 2004.
His 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) win over Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in front of an adoring home crowd at the Caja Magica gave Spain an unassailable 2-0 lead after Roberto Bautista Agut earlier battled past Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
The 33-year-old played eight matches in six days and was unbeaten through the week, coming straight from the ATP Finals in London. He won eight out of eight rubbers, including two in the singles and doubles in a pulsating semi-final win over Britain on Saturday.
The Davis Cup title was the cherry on the cake in a year be became the oldest year-end ATP world No 1, won his 12th title and Roland Garros and a fourth US Open to get to 19 Grand Slam title – just one behind Roger Federer’s all-time record of 20. He also won two Masters title, including his first-ever hardcourt title defence as Rogers Cup.
Here’s a look at how the tennis community on Twitter reacted to Nadal and Spain’s triumph
Nadal in 2019:
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) November 24, 2019
🏆 Roland Garros
🏆 US Open
🏆 Davis Cup
🏆 Rome
🏆 Montreal
Aus Open F
SFs in Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Wimbledon, Paris.
Oldest ever year end #1 at 33yo.
🇪🇸 Davis Cup Titles...
— Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals (@DavisCupFinals) November 24, 2019
2004 🏆
2008 🏆
2009 🏆
2011 🏆
2019 🏆#DavisCupMadridFinals #byRakuten pic.twitter.com/PJSGpu0bJX
The moment @RafaelNadal and Spain became World Champions...#CANESP #DavisCupMadridFinals #byRakuten pic.twitter.com/eJVqbB3TCv
— Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals (@DavisCupFinals) November 24, 2019
¡España campeón 2019! 🏆🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸#CANESP #DavisCupMadridFinals pic.twitter.com/ckBrzRfYcV
— Copa Davis (@CopaDavis) November 24, 2019
Nadal’s career is one long list of superhuman efforts.
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) November 24, 2019
And winning 8 matches in 6 days to help Spain win the #DavisCupFinals at home has got to be up there with the best of them.
He didn’t even lose serve once.
🔸 THE STREAK CONTINUES 🔸
— 9-7 in the 5th (@97InThe5th) November 24, 2019
Rafael Nadal has won his last 32 Davis Cup matches.
It's the longest undefeated Singles & Doubles run in 119 years of Davis Cup history.#DavisCupMadridFinals
This was Nadal back in March, sounding heartbroken after being forced to withdraw from his Indian Wells SF against Federer.
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) November 24, 2019
Six months later: Rome W, Roland-Garros W, Montreal W, US Open W, year-end world #1, #DavisCupFinals W.
Phenome-Nadal resilience. pic.twitter.com/2HFENufhpb
Nadal finishes 2019 at 59-7:
— Ravi Ubha (@raviubha) November 24, 2019
Wins French & US Open to get to 19 majors
Makes final at AO, SF Wimbledon
Oldest men's year-end No. 1
Leads Spain to Davis Cup title at home
Oh and he got married.
Nadal not only finishes the year at No. 1. He finishes the year by leading Spain to the new-age Davis Cup title at home. Holds off Shapovalov 6-3, 7-6 (7) to give Spain an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the final over Canada. Nothing left to prove but he proved it anyway
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) November 24, 2019
They should create another team competition in 2020 and call it Rafael Nadal vs. The World.
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) November 23, 2019
oh wait, we've already been watching that this entire week.
Congratulations Spain and their top guy @RafaelNadal, who cares so deeply about this competition and was inspirational all the way to the end. Roberto Bautista Agut showed great resolve to play - and win - given the circumstances. Bad luck Canada, you came so close. 🚀 https://t.co/SAlR3ghejU
— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) November 24, 2019
🎉 ¡Equipazoooo, ya tenemos la sexta Copa Davis para España! 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/TxqkQe4S7P
— Roberto BautistaAgut (@BautistaAgut) November 24, 2019
Sin palabras para alguien tan especial @BautistaAgut 👏👏💪💪 pic.twitter.com/UMMfSjLB1I
— David Ferrer (@DavidFerrer87) November 24, 2019
Rafa is not human. For real. #DavisCup
— Katie Swan (@Katieswan99) November 23, 2019