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Rafael Nadal returned to Davis Cup action for the first time in two years on Friday with his victory putting Spain ahead in a Group One relegation playoff against Denmark.
The 14-times grand slam champion, short of form and beaten in the third round of the US Open by Fabio Fognini, overcame world number 909 Mikael Torpegaard 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
The 29-year-old's last appearance was against Ukraine in 2013, since when the five-time champions have tumbled out of the World Group, and he was joined by David Ferrer as Spain established a 2-0 lead on day one.
In the World Group playoffs, Switzerland's big guns Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka helped their country into a 2-0 lead against the Netherlands, although Wawrinka was given a huge scare before beating Thiemo de Bakker in five sets.
Nadal's US Open conqueror Fognini beat Russian teenager Andrey Rublev to leave Italy tied at 1-1 after the first day of their World Group playoff in Irkutsk.
The United States, 32-time champions, were locked at 1-1 with Uzbekistan after Steve Johnson lost a five-setter to Denis Istomin before Jack Sock levelled things up with victory over Farrukh Dustov in Tashkent.
Australia's Tomic edges Britain's Evans to level semi
An exhausted Bernard Tomic fought off a tenacious fightback by Britain's lowly-ranked Dan Evans to draw Australia level at 1-1 after the first day of their Davis Cup semi-final on Friday.
Australian number one Tomic won the day's second singles 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 6-4 but he looked out on his feet towards the end after being rocked on his heels by the dogged Evans.
World No 3 Andy Murray had given the hosts a dream start as they bid for their first Davis Cup final spot since 1978, playing sublimely to thrash teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 in front of a packed house in Glasgow.
The winners will face Belgium or Argentina in the final.
Argentina's Mayer levels Davis Cup semi with Belgium
Argentina's Leonardo Mayer fought off Belgium's tenacious Steve Darcis to level their Davis Cup semi-final tie at 1-1 after the first two singles matches on Friday.
Mayer won the second rubber 7-6(5), 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-3 after a gruelling four-hour tussle in which he took a timeout to tend to a thigh problem.
World number 15 David Goffin gave Belgium a good start in their bid to reach the final for the first time in over a century when he beat Federico Delbonis 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-3.