Feliciano Lopez found himself in the Spanish
Davis Cup team at age 40 due to some injuries to other players but the Spaniard almost willed Spain into the knockout stages.
Playing in front of native fans in Madrid, Lopez was able to produce a very high level winning several matches for Spain and almost willing them past the Russian in a very tight and crucial doubles match. For Lopez the chance to play was a gift and something he won't forget:
"The fact of being here competing for me was already a prize. Finding myself in the situation I was in today, playing against the No.5 in the world in Madrid in front of 10,000 people, being able to compete with him, was already a gift."
Lopez was able to win that match to the amazement of everyone and himself:
"Imagine winning, what it means. Possibly, for all the special things that this match had, at the time it came to me, it will surely be one of the most important matches of my life, but it was not enough to qualify and that is what hurts me the most, and what really matters in the end."
Ultimately the Russians were able to turn around the score with Rublev and Karatsev winning a very close doubles match. Lopez played in that match as well and said afterward:
"Of course, it is a great disappointment not to make it past the group
stage. I think we did everything in our power to
qualify for the quarter-finals. Winning the first day 3-0 and
losing today 2-1, is very rare not to qualify and that is why we are so
disappointed and especially me, that I got a point for my team and then,
going one set up in the doubles, we were very close, but it wasn't
enough."
He also reiterated his commitment to Spanish tennis saying:
"I would like to continue helping Spanish tennis: It would be exciting to be a Davis Cup captain. I am not closing the door to anything."