Minutes before the start of the first game, the presence of Feliciano López was announced as a substitute for Pablo Carreño to meet with Kyle Edmund. The Spaniard was officially the player called to open the semifinal crossing against Britain, but, apparently due to some discomfort in the left foot, Bruguera had to choose to align the left-hander. Carreño admitted that he had not been physically or mentally high in his meeting on Friday against Argentina's Guido Pella, who defeated him in three sets, but was in the gym doing the mandatory warm-up shortly before the start of the tie. [6-3 and 7-6: Narration and statistics]

Spain has a serious problem with number two. Roberto Bautista, who left the concentration on Thursday due to the worsening of his father's illness, who died hours later, fell to the Russian Andrey Rublev on Tuesday. Nadal, already habitual in doubles matches, is life insurance, but in certain circumstances it may not be enough.

Without too many guarantees

At 38, Feliciano López, director of the Mutua Madrid Open, is getting closer to retirement. It was once again the pleasure of winning Queen's last summer, as her tennis acquires greater homologation on the grass. He has been a good player, with notable participation in the four Davis Cups he won with Spain, as in the final played in Mar del Plata against Argentina, where he defeated Juan Martín del Potro and scratched with Fernando Verdasco the point of the doubles. The problem, as was clear to Edmund, who beat him 6-3 and 7-6 (3), is that he does not currently offer great guarantees on an individual basis.

The Briton, who has solved his four games in two sets this week, placed three direct serves in the first game, an announcement of the forcefulness with which he was going to perform. Edmund played with enormous precision, often looking for the lines, without giving respite to a Feliciano who only subsisted with the service. After a first meteoric set, the Spaniard improved and came to have two balls to match the match, with 5-4 and 15-40, but his opponent neutralized them with an ace and a direct kick. Fist held high, the three-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist, sought the complicity of a fan who loves him. Edmund did not concede, more and more in tune with the player who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open last year.

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