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Nadal beats Del Potro to clinch Davis Cup for Spain

Rafael Nadal roars with delight © Getty Images

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Rafael Nadal was the hero as he secured Davis Cup glory for Spain after a thrilling victory over Juan Martin del Potro in Seville.

The world No. 2 battled back from a set down to claim a gripping 1-6 6-4 6-1 7-6(0) win to seal a third title in four years for the Spaniards with a 3-1 win over Argentina.

Nadal is now unbeaten in his last 20 Davis Cup singles rubbers, but had never before clinched the vital third point for his nation.

But after the Argentine doubles pairing of David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank won on Saturday to keep the contest alive following Nadal and David Ferrer's singles wins on Friday, Nadal held his nerve to claim a memorable victory in front of his home fans.

Argentina captain Tito Vazquez had admitted he was considering bringing in Nalbandian for the singles rubber following Del Potro's epic five-set defeat to Ferrer on Friday. And when the world No. 11 was broken in his opening service game, it looked like it might be a simple victory for Spain.

But it was Nadal who looked weary as Del Potro stormed back, winning seven games on the bounce to snatch the opening set and an early break in the second. Nadal has lost just once on clay in a best-of-five set match, and he battled back to win a crucial game at the start of the second set before a late break levelled proceedings.

Del Potro looked a beaten man when Nadal swept through the third set before snatching an early break in the fourth as the French Open champion looked to be well on course for victory. But the Argentine staged a remarkable comeback and gave it everything in a topsy-turvy fourth set. After breaking back, Del Potro forged ahead, only for Nadal to break back twice to serve for the match, and the Davis Cup.

Del Potro refused to lie down, and he battled valiantly to force the set to a tiebreak, but had nothing left as Nadal streaked to victory.

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