ODENSE, Denmark — Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer gave Spain a 2-0 lead over Denmark in their Davis Cup relegation playoff on Friday.
Both Spaniards beat their rivals in three sets, with Nadal overcoming Mikael Toregaard 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to put Spain ahead while Ferrer defeated Frederik Nielsen 6-1, 7-5, 6-2.
Nadal returned to Davis Cup tennis after a two-year absence for the Group 1 match and secured his 22nd consecutive win in the competition.
"It's important to have the first point for our country," Nadal said after the match.
The 909th-ranked Toregaard failed to convert any of his three break points in the first set, which he then surrendered to the Spaniard with a double-fault on the indoor hard court.
Nadal slowly improved the accuracy of his serve, even though the Dane hit some precise backhand shots to push the Spaniard.
"I was improving during the match and it's a straight-sets win," said Nadal. "This surface is fast and it's difficult to have control of the point."
Under the Davis Cup format, the winner will remain in Group 1 for the Europe/Africa Zone, while the loser faces Sweden in a second round relegation playoff.
Nadal, Ferrer give Spain 2-0 Davis Cup lead against Denmark
Nadal slowly improved the accuracy of his serve, even though the Dane hit some precise backhand shots to push the Spaniard. AP/Georgios Kefalas