Rafael Nadal staves off further Davis Cup relegation

Odense: A Rafael Nadal inspired Spain halted their Davis Cup decline as the 14-time Grand Slam champion teamed up with Fernando Verdasco to seal a 3-0 win over Denmark on Saturday.

The five-time champions were facing relegation from Group One of the Europe/Africa zone following consecutive defeats to Germany, Brazil and Russia in Nadal`s absence over the past two years.

However, he and Verdasco had too much class for the Danish duo of Frederik Nielsen and Thomas Kromann as they came from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Nadal and David Ferrer had already given Spain a commanding 2-0 lead on Friday.

"The feelings are good. It is difficult to play on a court completely unknown to us and between us we had the obligation to win," said Nadal.

"It is mission accomplished. In the doubles I think we played well in what was possibly the hardest of the three matches."