Local Schedule Quick Hitters Spain’s Alcaraz tests positive, is out of Davis Cup Finals
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madrid – Carlos alcaraz, the teenager touted as rafael Nadal’s heir and the biggest name in Spain’s team at the davis Cup Finals, tested positive for the coronavirus and was dropped from the squad on Thursday.
The 18-year-old alcaraz, who was going to make his first davis Cup appearance, said on social media he was sad to miss out on “such an important and special tournament like the davis Cup.”
“i was very excited to be able to play and represent my country here in madrid in front of our fans,” he said. “but sometimes things don’t go how we want them to go and you have to overcome that. it’s a very tough blow but you have to pick yourself up and come out stronger.”
alcaraz was expected to play in the Group a meeting with ecuador on Friday.
The international Tennis Federation earlier said a member of Spain’s team had tested positive for the coronavirus and was put in isolation, but did not name the player. The rest of the Spanish team members took a new PCr test.
The 32nd-ranked alcaraz, coming off a title at the Next Gen aTP Finals, will be replaced by No. 60 Pedro martínez.
The other members of the Spanish squad are Pablo Carreno busta, alberto ramos-vinolas, Feliciano López and marcel Granollers. The team captain is Sergi bruguera.
Spain was already without
Nadal because of an injury, and it lost No. 19 roberto bautista agut earlier this week because of an abdominal injury.
Spain is the defending champion at the davis Cup Finals that are being played in madrid, innsbruck and Turin. The first day of competition was Thursday in all three cities.
The matches in austria are being played without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic. Capacity is at 60% in Turin and 75% in madrid.
Tottenham beaten by Slovenia’s Mura, West Ham advances
Ten-man Tottenham conceded a late goal and fell to a humbling 2-1 loss to lowly Slovenian team NS mura in the europa Conference League on Thursday, a result that puts the London club in danger of being eliminated from the third-tier competition.
amadej maroša scored for mura four minutes into stoppage time in maribor, finishing off a quick counterattack with a shot that was deflected and looped into the net. it was a big blow for new Tottenham manager antonio Conte, whose team now risks elimination if mura loses to vitesse arnhem in the last round.
in the europa League, West
Ham clinched top spot in Group H with a game to spare with a
2-0 victory at rapid vienna. bayer Leverkusen also sealed a place in the round of 16 after coming back from 2-1 down to beat Celtic 3-2 in Group G.
only the eight group winners go straight into the round of 16 – the runners-up enter playoffs with the eight teams who finish in third place in the Champions League groups.
a similar system operates for the third-place europa League teams dropping down into the europa Conference League. eUroPa CoNFereNCe LeaGUe mura had lost its first four group games but went ahead in the 11th minute when Tomi Horvat scored into the roof of the net. Tottenham, one of the big favorites to win the first edition of the competition, then had ryan Sessegnon sent off in the 32nd with a second yellow card.