Nadal to open Spain’s tryst with promotion

The former World number one is out first where he will play India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan followed by a second rubber featuring Saketh Myneni for the hosts against David Ferrer for the visitors. 

Arguably India’s best shot at winning a point in this tie comes in the doubles where Myneni teams up with Leander Paes to take on Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez.

Should the tie still be live going into Sunday it will be Nadal up first against Myneni and Ferrer to play Ramanathan in the fifth rubber. 

On paper this should be a comfortable win for Spain but captain Conchita Martinez will be all too aware that her team has slipped up on foreign soil against teams it should have beaten for the last two year — losing to Brazil in Russia in 2015.

But that was without the talismanic Nadal on board. Spain’s No. 1 has won his last 22 Davis Cup singles rubbers and his only loss came in his first ever rubber in 2004 against Jiri Novak.