A win for Roberto Bautista Agut earlier on in the day left a mountain to climb for Team Belgium.

Only a win for David Goffin against Rafael Nadal would be enough to keep the tie alive. Goffin has been like a new person since Roland Garros last year and his performance against Nadal was flawless taking the tie between Spain and Belgium into a decisive doubles encounter.

It was between Gille and Vliegen for Belgium and for Spain, Carreno Busta and Nadal took to court.

It was the Spanish pair who prevailed and will take on Australia on Saturday evening in Sydney following an epic night of tennis.

Credit where it is due to Gille and Vliegen who just didn’t give too much away on serve in the opening set and for the majority of the second were strong but a 0-40 game saw the nerves enter the system of the Belgian pair who at the big moment crumbled.

The match came down to a match tie-break and at 4-4 a Nadal forehand ignited the Spanish pair and if anything put out the fire on Gilles/Vliegen who double faulted at 1:09am in Sydney with Spain advancing to Saturday’s semi-finals!