Jódar écrase Garín et met l'Espagne à un pas de la phase finale de Bologne

Rafa Jódar defeated Christian Garín 6-0, 6-2 in a decisive singles match, securing Spain's second point against Chile in the Davis Cup 2026 qualifier. This result placed Spain just one victory away from advancing to the final eight, which will be held in Bologna, Italy, in November. Earlier in the day, Dani Mérida had already given Spain the lead with a comeback win over Alejandro Tabilo, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. Spain, fielding two debutants, showcased strong performances from both players, marking a significant shift in momentum. Chile, led by Nicolás Massú, has never lost at home since 2011 and had remained undefeated in its last 12 home qualifiers. Now, facing Spain, Chile is on the brink of ending this long-standing streak. The match between Jódar and Garín lasted one hour and four minutes. Jódar dominated from the outset, winning the first set decisively before maintaining his control in the second. Garín struggled throughout, partly due to ongoing physical issues, including a hip injury that affected his performance during the recent US Open qualifying rounds. He also faced difficulties adapting to a new racket, leading to four double faults during service games. Mérida’s match against Tabilo was more evenly contested. Both players exchanged break points early on, but Mérida managed to recover after losing the first set. His resilience shone through in the third set, where he capitalized on key opportunities to secure the win. The match took two hours and 15 minutes to conclude. With Spain leading 2-0, the series will continue on Sunday with the doubles match featuring Tomas Barrios Vera and Alejandro Tabilo against Pedro Martínez and Jaume Muñar. Following that, Tabilo will face Jódar again, while Garín will take on Mérida in the final singles rubber. Chile faces a crucial challenge ahead, needing to win all three remaining matches to avoid elimination. Spain, under captain David Ferrer, aims to clinch a spot in the final eight with a single victory in the upcoming matches. The final results of the qualifier will determine Spain's participation in the prestigious Davis Cup final stage.