Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Caja Magica, Madrid, Spain - November 19, 2019 Spain's Rafael Nadal in action during his group stage match against Russia's Karen Khachanov REUTERS/Susana Vera
MADRID (Reuters) - Shortly before midnight on Tuesday in Madrid's La Caja Magica, Rafa Nadal punched the air as chants of "Rafa, Rafa" echoed around the arena and the Davis Cup Finals burst into life.
After generally disappointing attendances so far at the glitzy new version of the 119-year-old competition, a sell-out crowd in the cavernous 12,500-seat stadium roared the world number one to a 6-3 7-6(7) win over Russia's Karen Khachanov.
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