Rafael Nadal picks up where he left off,puts Spain up with a double-bagel win
Nadal put Spain firmly in control following Verdascos success against Ukrainian Dolgopolov.
A ruthless Rafa Nadal made a seamless transition from hard court to clay when he crushed Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 6-0 6-0 6-4 to give Spain a commanding 2-0 lead in their Davis Cup World Group playoff in Madrid on Friday.
Turning out for his country only four days after his US Open triumph in New York,the world number two showed no sign of fatigue or sympathy for his 92nd-ranked opponent as he dismantled the hapless Stakhovsky in devastating fashion at the futuristic Magic Box venue.
Clubbing winners apparently at will on the Manolo Santana showcourt,Nadal put Spain firmly in control following Fernando Verdascos 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 success against Ukrainian number one Alexandr Dolgopolov in the opening singles rubber.
Stakhovsky,who caused a sensation at Wimbledon this year when he beat seven-times champion Roger Federer in the second round,raised his arms and was given a rousing cheer when he won the opening game of the third set.
He found the inspiration to hold serve three more times before Nadal secured the crucial break to lead 5-4 and clinched victory on his first match point when Stakhovsky sent a backhand service return sailing beyond the baseline.
It was the first time in 769 career singles matches that Nadal has won the opening two sets of a five-set match 6-0.
Obviously its not the ideal thing physically to change surfaces in a couple of days, the Spaniard said in a courtside interview with Spanish television broadcaster Teledeporte. But its always special for me to play on clay and its a surface that I love. I had only a very short time to adapt but I more or less felt fine.
Spain need one more point for victory in the best-of-five tie and could wrap things up in Saturdays doubles as they bid to preserve their place in the elite World Group.
There had been doubt over Nadals participation after his exertions at Flushing Meadows,where he beat top-ranked Novak Djokovic to claim a second U.S. Open title and his 13th grand slam singles crown.
He has not played in the Davis Cup since helping Spain to victory against Argentina in the 2011 final in Seville,their third triumph in four years and fifth overall.
DECISIVE POINT
After Fridays stroll against Stakhovsky,the French Open champion has now won 21 of his 22 Davis Cup singles matches,including a perfect 17 out of 17 on clay. We dont have it wrapped up yet,there is still one point to get and we have to be careful, Nadal said.
Spain are in the playoffs after losing away to Milos Raonics Canada in the first round in February when Nadal,who had just returned from an injury layoff,did not feature. In other playoff matches world number three Andy Murray beat 16-year-old Croatian Borna Coric 6-3 6-0 6-3 as Britain ended the opening day 1-1 in Umag. Switzerland were unable to call on Roger Federer but took a 2-0 lead against Ecuador with Stanislas Wawrinka getting his side off to a winning start. Germany also opened up a 2-0 lead against Brazil.
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