On Saturday, Marc Lopez and Feliciano Lopez will face Tim Puetz and Jan-Lennard Struff in the doubles, paving the way for a potential tie-deciding clash between Nadal and Alexander Zverev on Sunday
World No 1 Rafael Nadal returned to action in record-breaking style as he pulled Spain level in their Davis Cup quarter-final against Germany on Friday.
Nadal, playing his first match since limping out of the Australian Open in January with a hip injury, produced some vintage tennis to defeat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2 6-2 6-3 in Valencia.
Victory helped stretch his winning streak in the Davis Cup to 23 matches in singles and doubles – the longest winning streak in the competition.
The win at the Plaza de Toros bullring was vital as it helped hosts Spain level the tie after world No 4 Alexander Zverev beat veteran David Ferrer 6-4 6-2 6-2 earlier in the day.
“It’s a memorable day, in front of my own crowd. It’s always special to play in these arenas,” said Nadal. “It’s great to be back even if after an injury it’s always difficult.”
The winner of their quarter-final will face either defending champions France or Italy for a place in the final.
Lucas Pouille gave France the first point in Genoa with a 6-3 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-1 win over Andreas Seppi before Fabio Fognini won a bad-tempered rubber against Jeremy Chardy 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 6-2 6-3 to make it 1-1.
On Saturday, France’s Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert will face Fognini and Simone Bolelli in the doubles.
Croatia got off to a winning start against Kazakhstan in Varazdin when world No 3 Marin Cilic outclassed Dmitry Popko, in straight sets, 6-2 6-1 6-2, before Mikhail Kukushkin hit back with an impressive 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-2 victory over Borna Coric to level matters.
In Nashville, USA will hope Miami Open champion John Isner can send them into the semi-finals for the first time in six years.
They tackle last year’s runners-up Belgium who are without their talisman David Goffin after he suffered a freak eye injury in Rotterdam in February.
The winner of that tie will face either Croatia or Kazakhstan in the semi-finals.
