Espanol Version

Third Set: 3-6

3-6 VICTORY for Nadal and the tie for Spain!!! A great triumph of the Spanish tennis player who, in spite of his youth, has played with a lot of authority and has dominated Stepanek, who is a great deal more expert and protected by the whole Czech crowd. But Nadal has known to maintain his serve with authority and to break the serve of Stepanek in the key moments of the match. Spain will measure itself against Holland in the second round on Spanish soil.

3-5 With a little new help from the chair judge, Stepanek wins the game and saves the first complicated situation, but not the last.

2-5 Nadal wins the game with authority and will get the first chance to win the match and to give Spain the decisive point in the tie. The Spanish bench has celebrated the the match with all its height and see the victory very close.

2-4 Stepanek gets a point of a game in which Nadal has not even fought. Now he only has to preoccupy himself with winning his serve.

1-4 Love game for Nadal. Stepanek has delivered the spoon and every time offers less resistence to the growth of the Spanish tennis player, whose service is as reliable as his game from the back of the court. If it continues like this, he will be able to win the match by the quick way.

1-3 Break for Nadal!!! The Spaniard has total control of the match and with this break he is situated very close to the victory. The figure of Nadal has grown to the extent that has been winning in confidence.

1-2 Love game for Nadal, who demonstrates a great concentration every time that he plays to serve. In this occasion, he didn't give up a single point.

1-1 Game for Stepanek. Nadal has let himself carry in this game and has taken a small breath.

0-1 Nadal is in a groove. The Spaniard wins the first game of the third set with authority and starts on a good foot. Nadal doesn't give up his serve against a Stepanek who no longer imposes like at the beginning of the match.

Second set: 6-7 (4-7)

6-7 Set for Nadal!!! The sensational Spanish tennis player, who, like a veteran, has born the pressure of the tiebreak and has won the 2nd set. They would have to change a great deal for Nadal to lose the match and Spain the tie.

6-6 Love game for Nadal. Stepanek seems to be losing concentration and returns to his chair so that they attend it, he isn't using his leg with total sureness. Begin the tiebreak.

6-5 Stepanek recuperates and resumes the match, with the Czech returning.

6-5 The match is paused with 15-0 for Nadal because Stepanek has twisted his left knee while trying to reach a shot from the Spaniard. It's a matter of the same knee that suffered making some games. The trainers are applying liquid and are putting on a bandage. Nadal is covered with a towel and makes stretches so he doesn't become cold.

6-5 Stepanek shows off with a good service game and, with a gift included from the chair judge, wins his game with relative easyness. Nadal has not had the option nor to argue, which is why his returns have not been good.

5-5 It has cost a world, even having saved a set point, but Nadal has won the game and leveled the match. The Spaniard has played of a very intelligent from from the back of the court, always finding the back line.

5-4 Game for Stepanek, who yields the pressure of the set to Nadal. But this Spanish tennis player is showing a lot of stablility with his serve and would not pass hurriedly to level the game. Perhaps he should take it further in the match from the back of the court.

4-4 Nadal wins the game and equals the match. The set enters into its crucial phase and if the Spaniard is capable of breaking the serve of Stepanek, he will have the match in his hand, at least this set.

4-3 The match has entered into a phase of absolute equality. Both players are winning their respective serves with relative easiness and are on the road to the tiebreak. They have only broken each other in one occasion.

3-3 Nadal gets an ace and levels the game. Stepanek went to the ground in a great down the line shot from the Spaniard and complained about his left knee, but he gives the impression that nothing happened.

3-2 Stepanek gets ahead in a game when the chair judge returns to cover himself with glory. Again he overrules a call on a shamelessly bad serve of Stepanek. Nadal despairs protesting against him, who continues gifting points to the Czechs.

2-2 Game for Nadal, which levels the game. The Spaniard doesn't show signs of weakness in his serve, but he should try to surprise Stepanek with the rest and to get the break that would be fundamental.

2-1 Stepanek wins the game after raising a 15-30 score thanks to a gift from the line judge, who didn't yell after a serve that he lost by more than a palm's length. Nadal got off center and after that lost the point.

1-1 A love game for Nadal, which demonstrates the solidity of his serve.

1-0 Nadal has touched the break in this first game of the second set after surmounting a 40-0 score for his opponent, but Stepanek has reacted in time and has gotten the point of the game. Nadal continues without losing his place in the court and doesn't give a stray shot.

First set: 6-7 (2-7)

6-7 Set for Nadal!!! The Spaniard has dominated the tiebreak with authority and has taken in his favor the first set of the match, and he has celebrated it at he deserves. Stepanek has been at the mercy of the Mallorcan, very solid with his serve and dominating in the rallies.

6-6 Stepanek takes the first set to the tie break. The Czech has won the game without too much hurry. Nadal starts serving.

5-6 Very important game for Nadal. The Spaniard didn't only remain indifferent to the gestures that the Czech is givin him, but he's serving of a very intelligent form, always searching for the lines. A break would give him the first set.

5-5 Stepanek levels the match after saving a break point. Nadal has been very close to taking the first set, but he is playing with a lot of strength and, in spite of his youth, he has much more class than the Czech.

4-5 Nadal gets the point of the game and celebrates it with rabidness after losing 3 consecutive ones. In this occasion, he has shown more solidly and, like we mentioned before, has moved Stepanek very well, so that he has been empty in trying to return the cross-court shots of the Spaniard.

4-4 A love game for Stepanek, who has taken the from Nadal. The Spaniard has to try to raise his initiative, like he did in the first games of the set, and to move the Czech more, very comfortable in the back of the court.

3-4 Break by Stepanek, who has risen to 40-0 in favor of Nadal and has broken the service of the Spanish player. The match is even, and now the Czech will serve, he has handled the mental aspect and the environment of the match very well with his numerous gestures.

2-4 Game for Stepanek, that has resulted with relative easyness. Nadal has taken a small breath in this game, but he has the set on the right track.

1-4 Rafael Nadal saves a very complicated situation and gets the 5th point of the first set. The Spaniard has saved two break points and has demonstrated a lot of poise in spite of the pressure that he has to bear. At the moment, he is showing his sureness from the back of the court, while the service is also at a height.

1-3 Break for Nadal!!! The Spaniard breaks the serve of the Czech tennis player for the first time and he has done it with an overwhelming security. Nadal has fully come into the match and has known to move Stepanek to perfection in the back of the court.

1-2 Game for Nadal, who has served with a lot of security and has known to take his time in every point to surprise Stepanek. Additionally, the Mallorcan has connected with some good shots from the front of the court, where it is more sure for Feliciano Lopez.

1-1 Stepanek resolves with a good service game and levels the match. Nadal has not been able to contain the attacks of the No. 2 Czech.

0-1 Nadal wins the first game of the match after saving the first break point for Stepanek, a more aggressive player than Berdych. The young Spaniard should know the pressure to which he will be submitted.

0-0 The match begins. Rafael Nadal serves.

Before beginning:

16:02 Rafael Nadal takes a last drink of water and receives the last instructions from Jordi Arrese before beginning the match.

15:58 Radek Stepanek and Rafael Nadal warm up on the court of the Palace of Congresses of Brno, where this Davis Cup tie is disputed. The young Spanish tennis player has the responsibility of giving Spain the decisive point that will put them into the 2nd round.