February 8, 2025
by Alan Crosby
Reuters

BRNO, Czech Republic, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Teenager Rafael Nadal beat Radek Stepanek 7-6 7-6 6-3 on Sunday to seal Spain's heroic 3-2 comeback win over the Czech Republic in their Davis Cup World Group first round tie.

Last year's losing finalists entered the day on the brink of elimination after the Czechs had taken the upper hand on Saturday by winning the doubles after the two sides split Friday's opening singles.

But late substitute Feliciano Lopez made a winning debut to pull Spain level 2-2 in their on Sunday with his 6-4 6-7 6-3 6-2 victory over Tomas Berdych, also a last-minute choice after Czech number one Jiri Novak was ruled out with a leg injury.

Nadal then cemented the fightback with his win over Stepanek in just over two and a half hours to keep Spain from suffering the same fate as holders Australia, who fell at the first hurdle over the weekend.

The 17-year-old Nadal became Spain's youngest ever Davis Cup player when he took to the court on Friday in a losing battle against the experienced Novak.

But he showed few signs of nerves with his country's Cup fate in his hands. Devastating forehand passes gave Nadal the mini-breaks he needed to take tiebreaks in the first two sets.

Stepanek turned his ankle during the 12th game of the second set and Nadal took full advantage, whipping his potent forehand around the court.

Nadal's match was given meaning by Lopez, who was chosen by captain Jordi Arrese at the last minute over Spanish number one Tommy Rebredo.

Arrese, already without the services of Spain's top two players -- world number two Juan Carlos Ferrero and number seven Carlos Moya -- decided to play the odds.

Robredo had lost three straight matches to Novak, while Lopez had won his last two against the tall Czech.

But Novak was a late scratch due to injury, leaving 19-year-old Berdych to fill in.

Both relied heavily on their powerful serves, blasting down 47 aces between them, 33 from Lopez, most above the 200 kph (120 mph) mark.

But Berdych was never able to break Lopez despite his success in the second set tiebreak, which was aided by two double faults from the Spaniard.