Tennis: Nadal secures Davis Cup title for Spain

Heartbreak for Argentina as Del Potro loses four-set thriller.

SEVILLE: Rafael Nadal got the winning point as Spain won the Davis Cup final against Argentina yesterday.

The world number two beat  Juan Martin del Potro to give the hosts an unbeatable 3-1 lead, rallying from a set down to see off the 2009 US Open champion 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6.

Nadal and David Ferrer had won Friday’s opening singles before David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank kept Argentina’s hopes alive by beating Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco in Saturday’s doubles.

There was heartbreak for Argentina who became the first nation to lose four finals.

Del Potro had got off to a strong start winning the first set 6-1. But Nadal hung on to get back into the match as Del Potro began to show signs of the fatigue from Friday’s five-hour marathon playing with both of his thighs bandaged.

Despite looking dead and buried after losing his serve early in the fourth set, Del Potro managed to claw his way back into the tie with some magical shots, which saw him serve for the set at 5-3.

Nadal dug deep, however, and the momentum swung his way again and once into the tie-break there was no looking back as he sealed victory after just over four hours on court.

Nadal was delighted with the win.

“It was a very emotional match and I am happy for the team,” said Nadal. “It was the most amazing atmosphere I have ever played in.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2011.