Nadal's reactions steal the show at the ATP Cup

Published February 03, 2021

While news of the hotel worker COVID-19 positive case and subsequent one-day shutdown of tennis in Melbourne sinks in, let's take a moment to appreciate all that has successfully happened. Six tournaments are going on simultaneously at Melbourne Park as the Australian Open start date looms.

The ATP Cup has brought out some of the best players in the world to represent their countries and battle for the coveted title. While Rafael Nadal has yet to take the court, his passionate reactions from the sidelines haven't escaped notice.

TOPSHOT - Spain's Rafael Nadal watches before the group B men's singles tennis match between Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta and Australia's John Millman on day one of the 2021 ATP Cup in Melbourne on February 2, 2021. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images) — © AFP via Getty Images

On Day 1, it was announced that Nadal wouldn't play due to a tight back. His teammates, Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut took care of business with singles wins over John Millman and Alex de Minaur, respectively.

Spain's Rafael Nadal (R) gives instructions to a teammate Roberto Bautista Agut (L) during the group B men's singles tennis match against Australia's Alex De Minaur on day one of the 2021 ATP Cup in Melbourne on February 2, 2021. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images) — © AFP via Getty Images

Agut's win over De Minaur was a tight three-set affair, so Nadal's rollercoaster of emotions made sense.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain grimaces as he watches the Group B singles match between Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain and John Millman of Australia during day one of the 2021 ATP Cup at Rod Laver Arena on February 02, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Carreno Busta and Marcel Granollers won doubles for good measure to dismiss Australia, 3-0.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain watches the Group B singles match between Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain and John Millman of Australia during day one of the 2021 ATP Cup at Rod Laver Arena on February 02, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

All the while, Nadal did everything he could to help, from cheering to coaching to keeping his nearby teammates engaged.

Spain's Rafael Nadal (R) sits before the group B men's singles tennis match between Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta and Australia's John Millman on day one of the 2021 ATP Cup in Melbourne on February 2, 2021. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images) — © AFP via Getty Images

Australia bounced back on Day 2 with a 2-1 win over Greece. As of now, Nadal is not scheduled to compete in Spain's next match against Greece. With all matches on Thursday cancelled though, he will get an extra day to recover and might take the court after all.