Nadal powers Spain into semis, Djokovic’s Serbia ousted
Madrid, Spain - Rafael Nadal won back-to-back matches to propel Spain to a 2-1 win over Argentina and a place in the semifinals of the new-look Davis Cup Finals on Friday. World No 1 Nadal beat Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-2 to pull Spain level after Guido Pella put the Argentina ahead with a 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 win over Pablo Carreno.
Nadal then teamed with Marcel Granollers to beat Maximo Gonzalez and Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in a mustwin doubles match to see Spain into a final-four clash with Great Britain.
"I had a good singles match, but the doubles came down to a few balls because the game was very close," Nadal said. "It's a great victory, but we don't have time to enjoy it - we have to rest because tomorrow it will be difficult again."
Britain meanwhile eased into the semis with an efficient 2-0 effort over Germany.
Andy Murray was rested on Friday and will miss the semifinals too. In his absence Kyle Edmund beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-5 in the first rubber with Daniel Evans taking three sets to see off Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 7-6 (7-2).
Earlier Russia beat Novak Djokovic's Serbia to reach the semifinals following a cliffhanger match that went all the way to a deciding tie-breaker.
With the quarterfinal level at 1-1 following the singles, the Russian pairing of Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev faced Djokovic and Viktor Troicki in the deciding rubber.
After a see-saw match of high drama the Russians came out 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10-8) winners and face Canada, quarterfinal victors over Australia, in Saturday's semifinals. "It was heads or tails and the coin fell on our side," Rublev said. "God gave me a chance to be a hero," he added.
Earlier in the day Rublev won the first singles over Filip Krajinovic 6-1, 6-2 to give Russia a lead, cancelled out later by Djokovic, who overcame Khachanov 6-3, 6-3.
The world No 2 Djokovic, winner of 16 Grand Slams said the match had been 'a real rollercoaster of a game, very, very emotional and very tense'.
"Sport is not all about winning and losing but this hurts me personally," said the 32 year old.
"Anyway the season is over now, we'll get over it. Tomorrow is another day."