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Netherlands avenge defeat to Spain in doubles
Palma De Mallorca, Apr 13: Netherlands fight back in doubles to trail 2-1 to Spain in Davis Cup.
Palma De Mallorca, Apr 13: Netherlands fight back in doubles to trail 2-1 to Spain in Davis Cup.
The Netherlands fought back from two sets down to win the rain-delayed doubles in their Davis Cup quarter-final against Spain on Sunday (April 11) and now trail the home side 2-1 in the tie.
Losing two sets to one when the match was halted due to a downpour on Saturday, the Dutch pair of Martin Verkerk and John van Lottum staged an impressive recovery to claim a gritty 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 win over Spain's Tommy Robredo and Rafael Nadal.
Spain went 2-0 up in the tie on Friday after Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero both claimed easy victories over respective opponents Verkerk and Raemon Sluiter.
In Sunday's reverse singles, Ferrero was trailing by two sets to one to Verkerk. Moya is scheduled to meet Sluiter later in the day.
Verkerk and van Lottum made an aggressive start when the doubles resumed on Sunday, breaking both the Nadal and Robredo serves to go 4-1 up in the third set.
Spain broke back in the next game, but 17-year-old Nadal lost his serve again after he double faulted and van Lottum served out to take the set.
Pumped up by a noisy Dutch contingent of fans at the converted bullring in Palma, Verkerk and van Lottum tore into the inexperienced Spanish pairing at the start of the decisive set and they raced to a 4-0 lead.
Nadal and Robredo never rediscovered the rhythm and understanding that allowed them to take the first two sets on Saturday and provided little resistance as their opponents cruised to a victory that put their team back in the tie.
Spain lead Netherlands 2-1 in their Davis Cup quarter-final tie after Sunday's rain-delayed doubles match.
Results (Spanish names first): Tommy Robredo/Rafael Nadal lost to John van Lottum/Martin Verkerk 6-3 6-2 3-6 2-6 2-6 Sunday's reverse singles starting at 1030 GMT: Juan Carlos Ferrero v Martin Verkerk Carlos Moya v Raemon Sluiter Friday's opening singles results: Carlos Moya beat Martin Verkerk 6-2 7-5 6-4 Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Raemon Sluiter 6-2 6-2 6-4
Bureau Report
Verkerk and van Lottum made an aggressive start when the doubles resumed on Sunday, breaking both the Nadal and Robredo serves to go 4-1 up in the third set.
Spain broke back in the next game, but 17-year-old Nadal lost his serve again after he double faulted and van Lottum served out to take the set.
Pumped up by a noisy Dutch contingent of fans at the converted bullring in Palma, Verkerk and van Lottum tore into the inexperienced Spanish pairing at the start of the decisive set and they raced to a 4-0 lead.
Nadal and Robredo never rediscovered the rhythm and understanding that allowed them to take the first two sets on Saturday and provided little resistance as their opponents cruised to a victory that put their team back in the tie.
Spain lead Netherlands 2-1 in their Davis Cup quarter-final tie after Sunday's rain-delayed doubles match.
Results (Spanish names first): Tommy Robredo/Rafael Nadal lost to John van Lottum/Martin Verkerk 6-3 6-2 3-6 2-6 2-6 Sunday's reverse singles starting at 1030 GMT: Juan Carlos Ferrero v Martin Verkerk Carlos Moya v Raemon Sluiter Friday's opening singles results: Carlos Moya beat Martin Verkerk 6-2 7-5 6-4 Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Raemon Sluiter 6-2 6-2 6-4
Bureau Report