AFP

Barcelona, Dec 5: Spain lead 1-0 against the Czech Republic in the final of the Davis Cup after Rafael Nadal beat Tomas Berdych 7-6, 6-0, 6-2 in the opening singles match on Friday.

After an awkward start, world number two Nadal compensated for a tense exchange of service breaks in the first few games of the match by winning 13 straight games from 5-5 in the first set.

Berdych, ranked 20th in the world, faded badly and was powerless to stop the match deteriorating rapidly during the 2 hour 29 minute encounter.

"I was a bit nervous at the start," said Nadal. "I played shorter than I normally do on clay.

"The first set was the key, and afterwards everything changed. I found more depth... I made fewer mistakes and I think Tomas was more tired than me.

"Personally, I think he lost his way because I was playing better from the end of the first set. With the public behind me, I was confident and I started to play the tennis I normally play on clay."

Berdych lamented his missed chances in the first set.

"At 5-5 there was a very long game when I didn't serve well. There were only long exchanges," he said.

"But you have to congratulate Rafa. The way in which he played those last two sets was simply incredible.

"It's tough to lose 13 games on the trot. I tried to find some answers to come into the net a little more but nothing really worked."

The second singles rubber of the day sees Czech number one Radek Stepanek taking on David Ferrer.

They have a 3-3 head-to-head record and have stretched to five sets in their last two meetings.

Saturday's doubles sees Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco (or Ferrer) playing Jan Hajek and Lukas Dlouhy. The reverse singles rubbers on Sunday pitch Nadal against Stepanek and Ferrer against Berdych.