Intro:

Germany triumphed in doubles to take winning 3-0 lead over Spain in the first round of the Davis Cup on Saturday.

Script:

Tommy Haas and Philipp Kohlschreiber knew before this match that a win would be enough to seal Germany's place in the Davis Cup quarter-finals.

The home side won both singles matches against Spain on Friday so David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco had to win to keep the game alive.

So with the pressure on, the first three sets went to tie-breaks, Germany won the first...

Marrero and Verdasco levelled in the second.

But Haas and Kohlschreiber powered in front in the third.

The fourth was not as close as the German pair won 6-3 to give Spain their second successive first round defeat. They will be desperate to have Rafa Nadal and David Ferrer back for a play-off in September. France await Germany in the quarter-finals.