Gritty Nadal secures Davis Cup for Spain

Mallorcan ends a tough year by clinching country's fifth victory in 11 years; team's top two players pull out of 2012 competition.

It has not been the easiest of seasons for Rafael Nadal, but he ended his 2011 on a high in Seville's La Cartuja stadium on Sunday by securing Spain's fifth Davis Cup final victory - its third in four years.

The Mallorcan, who has seen six titles, his number one status, and a large chunk of his normally unshakeable self-belief snatched away by the dominant Novak Djokovic over the course of the year, fought doggedly back to overcome Argentina's Juan Martín del Potro in four sets and earn Spain the third point it needed for the win. (...)
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/english/Gritty/Nadal/secures/Davis/Cup/for/Spain/elpepueng/20111204elpeng_11/Ten

                 Photograph by: (CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images)

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Rafael+Nadal+propels+Spain+fifth+Davis+tennis+crown/5811864/story.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/dec/04/rafael-nadal-spain-davis-cup
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2069978/Rafael-Nadal-wont-play-Davis-Cup-Spain-2012.html