Nadal beats Zverev to set up Davis Cup decider with Germany

Rafael Nadal kept Spains Davis Cup hopes alive by beating Alexander Zverez today in the fourth rubber of their quarter-final against Germany.

Nadals 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win in Valencia draew the tie level at 2-2, with Spanish world number 33 David Ferrer up against Germanys Philipp Kohlschreiber in the fifth and decisive rubber.

Two breaks in each set were enough for Nadal to seal an impressively comfortable victory over Zverev in what was only the 31-year-olds second outing since returning from a hip injury.

Nadal said after the match he is still regaining sharpness.

"The first set was fantastic," Nadal said. "There were times when I lost a bit of control because the match was tough, I had not competed for a long time and to maintain the level of the first set was complicated for me.

"But in general it was a very important match and I am very happy."