Davis Cup: Rafael Nadal Leads Spanish Armada to Victory Over India
Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez defeated India's Leander Paes and Saketh Myneni in four sets in the doubles match on Saturday to seal victory for Spain in the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie
Rafael Nadal and the Spanish team received a warm welcome from the Delhi crowd prior to the match. (All images from AFP)
Paes and Myneni were slow off the blocks, but overcame a 4-1 deficit to win the first set 6-4.
Nadal and Lopez found themselves in a spot of bother after being broken early in the second set.
The Indian duo led the second set 5-3 at one point, and looked in control of the proceedings.
The visitors, however, came back into the match and after breaking back, won the second set via a tie-breaker.
Paes and Myneni never managed to get a handle over the third set after going a break down, and lost the set 4-6.
After a slow start to the match, Rafael Nadal gradually grew into the match, and was helped by a star-struck crowd at the RK Khanna Stadium in New Delhi.
Nadal and Lopez made another comeback in the fourth set after going a break down, in what was a thrilling series of games.
Veteran Leander Paes showed great resilience as well, as India and Spain fought tooth-and-nail in the fourth set.
Eventually, Rafael Nadal grabbed the headlines with a brilliant display of tennis as the Spanish duo defeated Paes and Myneni 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4, sealing the country's return to the Davis Cup World Group.