Versi�n Espa�ol

Rafael Nadal, the youngest player of worth in Spanish tennis, responded to the pressure of his first appearance in the Davis Cup and got the third and definitive point for Spain by defeating Radek Stepanek 7-6(2), 7-6(4), and 6-3. The Spanish team reaches the quarter finals of the World Group, where they will meet Holland.

"You win your game and afterwards, I'll resolve the elimination," the 17 year-old Mallorcan said to Feliciano Lopez a little before the beginning of his day. The warning of the player from Manacor didn't result in a surprise. The Manacorian adores the pressure and the limited moments. It's what he demonstrated in the crucial moment of the elimination. In the match against the No. 2 Czech, Radek Stepanek, a giant, who wasted the occasion of his life.

Nadal exposed his weapons against Stepanek, who had too much hanging on good shots of his serve and the irregular reliability of his volleys. And in the second game, he broke the serve of the Czech and began to go with security. Nevertheless, the No. 2 of the Central European team equaled the set in the 7th game and the set remained open to the tiebreak. Nadal "ate" his adversary in the tiebreak (7-2).

There was no special reaction from Stepanek after that. His powerful serve didn't weaken - 30 aces at the end of the match - and Nadal strengthened in protecting his own serve. Neither did he handle the pulse of the Spaniard, when in the tenth game the Czech made use of a break point that also shut down the crowd. The Mallorcan elevated and returned the duel to equilibrium.

Injury of Stepanek

The left-handed youngster never dropped the piston. He moved his rival from one side of the court to the other. And in one of these, the Czech fell to the ground and twisted his knee. The attention of the physical therapist Pavel Kolar and a strong bandage recuperated Stepanek, who in these conditions confronted the second tiebreak, much more even, but with the same ending. Triumph for Nadal and 2 sets to none for Spain.

The Czech tennis player seemed to be done and the Mallorcan took advantage of his adversary's fall to break his service in the 3rd game. It was a mountain for the locals, who then always went in tow. He arrived without bellows to the final stretch. Although he didn't give facilities to the Spaniard, who needed three game points and to save two break points of his rival to end the match. It was the only threat to the pressure.

Nadal embraces the future with forceful marches. His audacity has certified the passing to the quarter finals. It will be against Holland, in Spain, from April 9-11. The captains have to decide who to elect.