Spain, Britain even after Nadal win

Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates his semifinal singles win over Great Britain's Dan Evans. (AFP)

Rafael Nadal sent Spain’s Davis Cup semifinal against Britain on Saturday into a deciding doubles rubber with a 6-4, 6-0 thrashing of Dan Evans in Madrid.

Kyle Edmund had earlier seen off Feliciano Lopez in straight sets to give Britain a 1-0 lead against hosts Spain.

World No. 1 Nadal stepped in for Marcel Granollers to partner Lopez in the doubles clash against Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski.

The winner will face Canada in Sunday’s final after the North Americans edged out the Russians in the first last-four tie.

Nadal took a tight opening set on his third set point in the 10th game, before racing to victory with a run of eight straight games.

World No. 69 Edmund claimed a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win over veteran Lopez, who stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Pablo Carreno Busta.

The 38-year-old Lopez was broken in just the second game of the match as Edmund took the opening set, before seeing two set points come and go in the second.

Edmund clinched his third straight singles victory of the week on his third match point.