Cordoba: Rafael Nadal put Spain into the Davis Cup final after demolishing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-0, 6-2, 6-4 for an insurmountable lead against France in their semifinal encounter. They will take on Argentina, who beat champions Serbia 3-2 in Belgrade after US Open champion winner Novak Djokovic retired injured in the second set of his match against Juan Martin Del Potro.
Del Potro was leading the world number one 7-6 (7/5), 3-0 before Djokovic, visibly struggling to stay in the match with back pain, was forced to concede the rubber.
Frustrated
In the ‘dead' rubber, Juan Monaco, who replaced David Nalbandian, retired after the first set against Janko Tipsarevic, which the Serbian player had won with 6-2.
Nadal, meanwhile, complained of fatigue coming into the series but showed no symptoms as he dominated the 10th-ranked Frenchman on the outdoor clay at Cordoba's bullring to give the hosts a chance at a third title in four years. Spain won 4-1 after Fernando Verdasco beat Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-1 in the final reverse singles.
Tsonga replaced Gilles Simon for the reverse singles match after an impressive doubles victory but was frustrated by 50 unforced errors, especially a misfiring backhand as France won just 16 games over three singles matches.
RESULTS
- Spain 4 France 1
- Rafael Nadal (ESP) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (ESP) 6-0, 6-2, 6-4; Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-2, 6-1.
- Tsonga/Michael Llodra (FRA) bt Feliciano Lopez/Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.
