Davis Cup: Spain routs India 5-0

Spain's Marc Lopez and David Ferrer won their respective rubbers against Sumit Nagal and Ramkumar Ramanathan to beat India 5-0 in the Davis Cup World Group play-off.

Sumit Nagal (right) fought well before going down to Marc Lopez (left) in three sets.

After taking an unassailable 3-0 lead, Spain won the dead rubbers to beat India 5-0 in the Davis Cup World Group tie at the R. K. Khanna Stadium here on Sunday.

An expectant holiday crowd was treated to spells of high quality game by the young Sumit Nagal but breathing difficulties dipped his game. Lopez, who capitalised, won the rubber 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

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The 34-year-old Lopez, who had played a stellar role in the doubles with Rafael Nadal on Saturday, won six games on the trot to win the final set.

With the tie having been sealed on Saturday, the dead rubbers were restricted to best of three sets. Sumit, who's supported by Mahesh Bhupathi, promised that he would play better the next time.

Sumit has been improving physically and technically in the last two years, and is ranked 380 in singles. A booming forehand adds to his menace but he needs to mature to compete well at the higher level.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion Nadal was on the sidelines but David Ferrer provided the spectators an exhilarating display of tennis against Ramkumar Ramanathan.

Ferrer was a class act, with his brilliant returns and fierce passing shots. Ramkumar, ranked 203, fired the big serves -- the fastest clocked 203 kmph -- but was constantly pressurised by Ferrer.

The experience of playing against high quality players would help Ramkumar in the professional circuit.

With Nadal ensuring capacity crowds, it was a big boost for Indian tennis. People witnessed the players, who have been silently working hard around the world, in the professional circuit.

Captain Anand Amritraj conceded that fitness was a major concern for India, and praised the Spaniards for their intense and energetic play.

"Marc Lopez played four intense sets yesterday. To come back today and play three sets in singles shows the phenomenal fitness levels for a doubles specialist," said Anand.

The results:

Spain bt India 5-0 (Marc Lopez bt Sumit Nagal 6-3, 1-6, 6-3; David Ferrer bt Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-2, 6-2; Rafael Nadal & Marc Lopez bt Leander Paes & Saketh Myneni 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4; Feliciano Lopez bt Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. David Ferrer bt Saketh Myneni 6-1, 6-2, 6-1)