Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev LIVE updates: Nadal forces deciding rubber with victory
RAFAEL NADAL beat German Alexander Zverev to earn his second Davis Cup point of the week and force a quarter-final decider.
Rafael Nadal is in Davis Cup action for Spain
Nadal returned to action this week in his first match of the Davis Cup quarter-final.
And he managed to take his second point for Spain this week as they battled back from 2-1 down against Germany.
The world No 1 had been out since the Australian Open after struggling with more injury problems.
But he managed to beat Alexander Zverev with ease 6-1 6-4 6-4 and forced a deciding match up between David Ferrer and Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Nadal vs Zverev LIVE updates
He’s done it! @RafaelNadal forces a decisive 5th rubber in Valencia with a straight sets win over Alexander Zverev 61 64 64
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) April 8, 2018
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12.40: Nadal wins 6-1 6-4 6-4 to force the deciding rubber for this quarter-final tie.
12.35: GSM Nadal. The world No 1 proves too much for the young German and levels the scores at 2-2.
David Ferrer will face Philipp Kohlschreiber in the decider.
12.25: Nadal comes close to closing it out but Zverev holds to force the Spaniard into serving for the match. Delaying the inevitable.
12.05: Nadal rocks to a 4-1 lead in the third.
Zverev with no answer to the Spaniard and the home crowd are lapping it up.
11.45: Second set Nadal! Nadal takes the second set 6-4 and is now just one set from levelling this match with Germany.
He’s had Zverev on the ropes all day and despite a few encouraging signs from the German Nadal looks too strong.
A real test of his fitness this but he looks like passing with flying colours.
11.40: Nadal now 5-4 up and serving for the second set.
11.30: And Zverev is making a fist of it again.
Nadal moved 4-2 up but Zverev battled back to keep the second set interesting.
Relentless @RafaelNadal has Zverev on the ropes... and the home fans are loving it!! ������������������������������������������������������
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) April 8, 2018
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11.10: Zverev does make a move and leads 2-1 in the second.
11.05: Nadal takes an early break in the second and looks on fire in Valencia today.
This could be wrapped up rather quickly unless Zverev gets a foothold.
10.45: First set Nadal. The Spaniard breezes to a quick fire 6-1 first set win.
10.30: Nadal holds to make it 4-1 and move closer to the first set.
10.20: Zverev is on the board finally and pulls a game back to make it 3-1 but it look like delaying the inevitable for this first set.
The King of Clay has two breaks of serve in the opening set
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) April 8, 2018
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10.15: And it’s a blistering start from the Spaniard as he romps to a 3-0 lead in the first set.
10.00: The players arrive on court in Valencia. Nadal will fancy his chances on the clay today.
09.55: Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev are due to get underway shortly as Spain look to draw level in the Davis Cup quarter-final.