Nadal ends his trying year a winner

Rafael Nadal’s joy is unconfined as he defeats Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro in the Davis Cup final (AFP)

He has had a season with more than its usual share of disappointments but the irrepressible Rafael Nadal ended it here yesterday in a manner of which he could only have dreamed: lying on his back in celebration on his beloved red clay after striking the winning blow for Spain in the final of the Davis Cup. Nadal's 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 victory over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro (right), after a four-hour match full of drama, secured Spain's fifth Davis Cup triumph in the last 12 years.

For most of this year, Nadal has run second best to Novak Djokovic. Then, in London less than a fortnight ago, he suffered his worst mauling in 26 meetings with Roger Federer, his greatest rival. For all his difficulties, however, the 25-year-old Spaniard remains the king of clay. Having swept aside Juan Monaco in the opening rubber on Friday, he faced a much sterner test against Del Potro but held firm in the face of a spirited performance by the 2009 US Open champion. "Today is one of the most emotional days of my career," Nadal said afterwards. "To win a final this way is very special."

Del Potro dropped his serve with a double fault in the very first game but went on to break Nadal four times in a row. Going for his shots, the 6ft 6in Argentine hit some huge winners from the baseline. For such a big man Del Potro can be a surprisingly good mover and, on set-point, struck a fine backhand cross-court winner after chasing down a drop-shot. It was the first set Nadal had lost in a Davis Cup tie for three years.

When Del Potro broke again at the start of the second set to win his seventh game in succession, even the most diehard Spanish supporter might have begun preparing for the worst. Was Nadal about to lose a Davis Cup singles rubber on clay for the first time?

The world No 2's response, however, was magnificent. Wearing Del Potro down with his extraordinary defence, Nadal stopped the rot to level at 1-1 and broke again to win the second set, celebrating with a huge leap into the air.

Nadal took the third comfortably and went 2-0 up in the fourth but Del Potro fought like a tiger. The world No 11 was two points away from levelling the match when he served at 5-3 and 30-15 but then lost three points in a row. At 6-5, it was Nadal's turn to serve for the set – and the match – but more huge hitting by Del Potro forced a tie-break. However, the Argentine did not win another point. While his opponent kept his composure, Del Potro made a succession of mistakes in the tie-break, which ended with Nadal thumping a forehand winner down the line.