Nadal Secures Davis Cup for Spain

Rafael Nadal beat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in a thrilling match to secure the Davis Cup for Spain.

World number two Nadal lost six games in a row in the first set but came back superbly to win a high-class encounter 1-6 6-4 6-1 7-6 (7-0) in Seville.

The victory was his 16th successive win in Davis Cup singles on clay and gave the hosts an unassailable 3-1 lead.

It secured Spain's fifth Davis Cup title and their third in four years, while Argentina have yet to win it.

"Today is one of the most emotional days of my career," said Nadal, 25, after winning the title for the third time.

"After such a difficult year, this was a spectacular finale to the season. To win a final this way is very special.

"We are very grateful to all the people of Spain. It was the best atmosphere I have experienced in my career."

A strangely out-of-sorts Nadal broke Del Potro in the first game but his opponent battled his way back into the match and dominated the Spaniard's serve to take the opening set to the delight of the Argentine fans in the 28,000 Olympic Stadium.

However, Nadal's indomitable spirit helped him halt Del Potro's run and he took the second set with a typically aggressive display that was greeted by a huge roar from the home supporters.

The 10-time Grand Slam winner took the third set in commanding style and the result looked to be a formality with Del Potro, who lost a near five-hour epic to David Ferrer on the opening day, seemingly tiring.

But, as the tension grew with each point, the Argentine dug deep and produced a series of magnificent winners to keep the tie alive, taking 10 points in a row and then breaking the Spaniard in the eighth game to give himself the chance to serve for the set.

However, amid increasing noise from the crowd, Nadal went on the attack and broke Del Potro's serve to level the set again.

Nadal broke his opponent again but Del Potro was not beaten yet and broke back immediately, firing a blistering forehand winner to take the set into a tie-break, in which the left-hander was unstoppable.

RESULT: SPAIN 3-1 ARGENTINA

Friday's singles: Nadal bt Monaco; Ferrer bt Del Potro

Saturday's doubles - Verdasco/Lopez lost to Nalbandian/Schwank

Sunday's singles - Nadal bt Del Potro

LAST 10 DAVIS CUP WINNERS

2011: Spain bt Argentina 3-1

2010: Serbia bt France 3-2

2009: Spain bt Czech Rep 5-0

2008: Spain bt Argentina 3-1

2007: USA bt Russia 4-1

2006: Russia bt Argentina 3-2

2005: Croatia bt Slovakia 3-2

2004: Spain bt USA 3-2

2003: Australia bt Spain 3-1

2002: Russia bt France 3-2

Nadal Gives Spain Early Davis Lead

World number two Rafael Nadal thrashed Juan Monaco 6-1 6-1 6-2 to put Spain 1-0 up against Argentina in the best-of-five Davis Cup final in Seville.

Nadal, who crashed out of last week's World Tour Finals in the group stages, needed only two hours and 27 minutes to seal the win for the four-time winners.

The victory extended his 100% record in the competition on clay to 15-0.

Spanish world number five David Ferrer takes on number 11 Juan Martin Del Potro in Friday's second singles match.

Nadal had complained of feeling tired after his early exit in the ATP finals in London but, backed by the majority of the stadium's 28,000 fans, produced a magnificent display against world number 26 Monaco.

"I played a very solid match and I am very happy with my performance," said Nadal, whose only defeat in 20 Davis Cup singles matches on all surfaces came in February 2004 against Czech Jiri Novak.

"I was very positive before the match even if there was a lot of pressure. It's an important victory. To win by such a score against a very strong player on clay is fabulous.

"I was sad for him as he is one of my best friends."

The final is a repeat of 2008, when Spain won on a hard indoor surface in Argentina despite missing Nadal because of injury.

Argentina are seeking a first title in four attempts, having finished runners-up in 1981, 2006 and 2008, while Spain have won it on four occasions - 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009. Serbia won the competition last year.

SPAIN 1 ARGENTINA 0

Friday's singles: 

Nadal bt Monaco; 

Ferrer v Del Potro

Saturday

Verdasco/Lopez v Nalbandian/Schwank 

Sunday 

Nadal v Del Potro 

Ferrer v Monaco

Argentina and Spain in Davis Final

Serbia's Novak Djokovic retired from his Davis Cup semi-final singles match against Juan Martin del Potro through injury, giving Argentina a 3-1 win.

The US Open champion missed the opening singles matches for the Davis Cup holders with back pain but was named to play in Sunday's reverse singles.

But the world number one pulled out while trailing 6-7 0-3.

Argentina will now travel to Spain for December's final after Rafael Nadal helped wrap up a 4-1 win over France.

Djokovic, who returned home immediately after his US Open victory on Monday, regularly stretched his back during the match.

After the first point in the third game of the second set, he fell to the ground and was unable to continue.

After he was helped to the bench by captain Bogdan Obradovic and his team mates, a tearful Djokovic embraced Del Potro and received a standing ovation from the 18,000 home crowd in the Belgrade Arena.

"I feel very disappointed to end the tie in this way," he said. "I tried although I was only 60% fit and I went into the match knowing there was a risk of aggravating the injury which I first felt at the US Open.

"We knew my condition was not good but we believed that even so I would have a better chance against Del Potro than my team-mate Viktor Troicki would, at the end of the day it was my decision and it backfired.

"I am not saying I would have won if I had been 100% fit because Del Potro played at a very high level and never in my professional career did I struggle with my return of serve as I did here.

"The important thing now is to determine the extent of my injury and how long it will take me to recover, I was able to battle through the pain in New York but not here."

In Cordoba in Spain, Nadal, who had complained of tiredness earlier in the week, showed no ill-effects with a 6-0 6-2 6-4 win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The world number two was originally set to face Gilles Simon in the fourth rubber, but after Simon's loss to David Ferrer on Friday and Tsonga's comprehensive doubles win with partner Michael Llodra, Tsonga was given the challenge of beating the Mallorcan.

But it all started badly for him when Nadal swept to the first set in just 35 minutes and as Tsonga struggled on the clay in Cordoba, Nadal pushed forward his advantage to win.

Fernando Verdasco completed the rout for the hosts when he beat Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-1 in the final dead rubber.

"I'm very happy for the country and for the team," Spain team captain Albert Costa said afterwards.

"Today Rafa played a really unbelievable match and I knew today was going to be very tough.

"He played so deep, so long with a lot of power, serving good and returning everything. When this guy plays good on clay he's unbelievable.

"A semi-final against France is never easy so I'm very proud about this team, they're great players."

DAVIS CUP FACTS

Argentina's win was their first Davis Cup semi-final victory away from home.

They had lost all six of their previous semi-finals away from home.

Serbia came into the semi-finals on the back of seven-match winning streak in the competition.

The last team to beat Serbia in a home series was Belgium in 2005.

That match was also the last time Novak Djokovic lost a home Davis Cup singles tie.

Serbia Keep Davis Hopes Alive

Serbia kept alive their hopes of retaining the Davis Cup with a doubles victory against semi-final opponents Argentina in Belgrade.

Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki beat Juan Monaco and Juan Ignacio Chela 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 6-2 to leave them trailing 2-1 going into Sunday's singles.

In the other semi, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra kept France in contention against Spain, who lead 2-1.

Tsonga and Llodra beat Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-1 6-2 6-0.

The French pair converted a break point at their first opportunity and never looking back as both Lopez and Verdasco struggled with their serve throughout.

Six-time finalists Spain, who held a 2-0 lead after Friday's singles matches, are still favourites to reach the final.

World number two Rafael Nadal, who has complained of tiredness after his US Open final defeat to Novak Djokovic, is due to take on Gilles Simon while David Ferrer is set to face Richard Gasquet.

Tsonga, who sat out Friday's matches, is keen to take Simon's place as France bid to reach a second final in a row.

The Frenchman has beaten Nadal twice in seven matches, although the pair have never met on clay.

"If he [captain Guy Forget] picks me that would be the fantastic," Tsonga said. "I am motivated to go and play if I get picked. If I play I am sure I will certainly play against Rafa in this incredible environment and on the clay - I would really like that."

"I know Jo is fresh and it's a very strong possibility I will call on him," Forget said. "We'll talk about it later."

Serbia will be hoping that Djokovic, who pulled out of his opening match against David Nalbandian with lower back and rib pain, will be fit for Sunday's opening clash with Juan Martin Del Potro.

Meanwhile, International Tennis Federation chief Francesco Ricci said Nadal was wrong to claim the gruelling tennis schedule was damaging players's welfare.

Nadal had even hinted at a players strike in protest at a calendar which required him to play in the Davis Cup just four days after losing in New York.

"I have the deepest respect for Nadal but to accuse the Davis Cup of putting players' physical well-being at stake is incomprehensible," said Ricci.

"Why doesn't Nadal address his complaints to the ATP which controls 90 percent of the calendar when we control just a few weeks?

"It is not acceptable to us to relax the Davis Cup calendar. The players already play less than two weeks of Davis Cup each year."

GB secure Davis Win

Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchings ensured Great Britain earned promotion to the Europe/Africa Group One of the Davis Cup after an impressive doubles performance against Hungary.

The experienced doubles pair beat Attila Balazs and Kornel Bardoczky 6-3 6-4 6-4 at Glasgow's Braehead Arena.

The win by the US Open and Wimbledon quarter-finalists gave GB an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the tie.

Singles wins by Andy Murray and James Ward on Friday had put GB in control.

Although Balasz looked a much better player than he had during his singles defeat by Ward while Bardoczky was also capable of hitting some searing winners, overall the British pair always appeared to have the edge.

There were some shaky moments in the first set, particularly on the Fleming serve, but the Scot held on and the crucial break was secured in the eighth game.

Hutchins had lost all four of his previous Davis Cup matches, including a rubber with Fleming against Ukraine two years ago, but both players have improved significantly since then.

Britain began the second set by winning eight straight points but the Hungarians stayed in contention and it was not until the fifth game of the third set that Fleming and Hutchins broke again, celebrating with a Bryan brothers-style chest bump.

And that proved enough for the pair to secure victory, Fleming holding his serve with ease in the final game to give Leon Smith's side a fourth straight win as Hungary went the same way as Turkey, Tunisia and Luxembourg.

Smith's side will return to the second tier of the competition next year for the first time since 2009, where much tougher challenges will await in Wednesday's draw.

But the Scot knows that for Britain to have a chance of staying in Group One, or even getting higher, Andy Murray must play.

The world number four has always stated his desire to represent his country but, with the ties often coming at busy periods of the season, he has not always felt able to commit.

Smith said: "In terms of winning matches, we need Andy. He makes a pivotal difference but you've still got to respect his schedule because he's going deep in every slam.

"We'll speak next year and see how it fits in but he's really enjoyed it, he's been a great part of it and he loves Davis Cup. The signs are positive that he wants to play next year.

"There is still a lot of hard work to go and with the level going up, we need more competition for singles places and for senior players to improve their ranking.

"We've got a very good team spirit, everyone wants to play and I think it shows when they go out on court that they genuinely want to be here. But it still doesn't lie where we're at with singles, it's not good enough."

Sunday's two singles will be dead rubbers but, with another big crowd expected, Smith said it is very likely Murray will play.

Nadal Davis Win Helps Spain

Rafael Nadal helped Spain to a 2-0 lead over France in their Davis Cup semi-final but was angry about the tie coming so soon after the US Open final.

Nadal lost to Novak Djokovic in an epic contest in New York on Sunday but beat Richard Gasquet in straight sets before David Ferrer defeated Gilles Simon.

Nadal said: "It is unacceptable that two big events like a Grand Slam and a Davis Cup semi-final are so close."

In the other semi-final, Argentina also lead defending champions Serbia 2-0.

If this continues, the best players in the world will stop playing in this competitionRafael Nadal

David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro established the commanding margin with wins over Victor Troicki and Janko Tipsarevic in Belgrade.

Troicki replaced Djokovic, who withdrew from the first singles rubber with a back problem, but the world number 16 was no match for Nalbandian who won 6-4 4-6 6-2 6-3.

Former US Open champion Del Potro then dismissed Tipsarevic 7-5 6-3 6-4 to put the South Americans on course for the final.

"Djokovic's absence helped us for sure," Nalbandian said. "I found out some 25-30 minutes before the match that he will not play, but I was prepared to play either him or Troicki, it did not matter."

At Cordoba's bullring, Nadal made light work of Gasquet - beating his opponent 6-3 6-0 6-1 in baking conditions - but said leading players could strike if the tennis calendar was not changed to give them more rest periods.

"I rule out nothing," said Nadal. "I wouldn't like to go as far as a strike because playing is what I like to do. But something has to happen.

"As the International Tennis Federation doesn't want to listen, it would seem that the only way to get things moving is to act in the strongest manner."

The world number two added: "If this continues, the best players in the world will stop playing in this competition."

Nadal will rest on Saturday giving Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco the chance to clinch victory by beating Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the doubles.

If Spain triumph, it will be the third time in four years that they have reached the Davis Cup final, and will go some way to avenging their semi-final defeat by France last year.

In Sydney, Roger Federer made a sluggish start before beating Lleyton Hewitt 5-7 7-6 6-2 6-3 to move Switzerland level at 1-1 against Australia in a World Group play-off.

Federer said he was feeling the effects of his five-set loss to Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals and felt uncomfortable on an "old school" grass court.

"I all of a sudden realised this was much more difficult than I expected," Federer said.

Bernard Tomic earlier beat Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-3 to give Australia a 1-0 lead.

Andy Murray in David Cup Action

Andy Murray faces a man who stopped playing professionally four years ago as Great Britain tackle Luxembourg in the Davis Cup in Glasgow this weekend.

The world number four takes on unranked Laurent Bram at the Braehead Arena after James Ward and Gilles Muller play Friday's first rubber. Bram has lost nine of his 11 Davis Cup singles matches and is now a coach.

Murray said: "I've had a great last few days, practised well. I have always enjoyed playing Davis Cup."

Britain will face Belarus or Hungary in a promotion play-off in September if they are victorious this weekend.

After the singles, Murray and his brother Jamie will compete in their first Davis Cup doubles match together when they play Bram and 18-year-old Mike Vermeer on Saturday.

On Sunday afternoon Murray will open against Muller, who is ranked 81 in the world, before Ward and Bram complete the Europe/Africa Group II encounter. 

Following his Wimbledon semi-final exit to Rafael Nadal, Murray admitted he was buoyed by involvement in the Davis Cup tie - his first under captain Leon Smith - in front of an enthusiastic Scottish crowd, with all the tickets already sold for the first day's play.

"We went to a tennis club yesterday in Paisley and got really good support, everyone has been really upbeat and positive," Murray said."That's been great, something you need this time of year. We are halfway through now so you need something to give you motivation and that has helped.

"Whether it's the best thing for me or not (after Wimbledon), I have no idea, but I have had a good week so far."I have always enjoyed playing Davis Cup. It's just different, it's a different atmosphere, a different experience and just a different build-up.

"I like that, it's refreshing. You spend the whole year on your own and now you have guys around you.

Murray pulled out of John Lloyd's last Davis Cup match in charge, a defeat by Lithuania in March 2010, citing his need to prepare properly for the 2010 season and his quest to win a Grand Slam. But when asked on Thursday about his future plans in the event he said: "I like playing for my country, always have done, and I've played well. I'm sure I'll play more than I have done in the last few years."

There was one change announced to the British squad with Daniel Evans coming in as the back-up player in place of doubles expert Colin Fleming, who has a foot injury.Click to playMurray unimpressed by 'shaving' advice

Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic is in action for holders Serbia against Sweden in the World Group quarter-finals on the indoor courts in Halmstad.

USA play Spain in Texas and Germany face France in Stuttgart, while Argentina's match against Kazakhstan began a day earlier, Juan Monaco and Juan Martin Del Potro giving their team a 2-0 advantage.

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