Rafael Nadal gave Spain a 2-0 lead in their Davis Cup final with the USA with victory over Andy Roddick in Seville. The 18-year-old beat the world number two 6-7 (6/8) 6-2 7-6 (8/6) 6-2 in a battle lasting nearly four hours to delight the 27,000-strong crowd.
Nadal squandered set points in the first set but his superior clay game gradually ground down the American.
Roddick had a set point in the third set tiebreak but Nadal edged it before racing away with the fourth set.
Carlos Moya had given Spain the perfect start with a straight-sets win over Mardy Fish.
 |  It was cold out there, which made it very tough, but the problem was Nadal |
Fish raced into a 3-0 lead in the first set as Moya seemed intimidated by the expectation of the huge crowd - a Davis Cup final record - at the Estadio Olimpico. But the former world number one soon eased into his stride and broke twice himself to take the first set 6-4.
Moya also broke twice in both the second and third sets to wrap up a comfortable 6-4 6-2 6-3 victory.
The USA must now win Saturday's doubles match to keep the final alive.
MMIX
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