The Americans are 29-44 when dropping the first singles match.

Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez will team up in today's doubles against American pair Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish, who is filling for Bob Bryan. Nadal plays Roddick and Ferrer faces Querrey in Sunday's reverse singles.

Querrey's previous record against left-handed players (3-5) and on clay (5-9) didn't bode well, especially since he was up against a player who came in with a 155-14 career record and 22 titles on the surface.

The 1.98 meter American started well with an ace to take the opening game. Nadal, playing for the first time in Spain since winning Wimbledon and Olympic gold, finally had the home crowd cheering after smacking a winner down the line to set up the tiebreaker.

The 20-year-old Querrey raced to a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker after serving a 216-km down the middle. Nadal battled back to 5-4 before double-faulting, and Querrey closed out the set two points later.

Querrey broke Nadal for the first, and only, time to open the second set. The Spaniard, who has lost only twice in his last 116 clay matches, broke back for 2-2. Both players held serve until the 10th game, when Querrey missed two straight backhands and Nadal evened the match at 1-set apiece.

Nadal took control in the third set, breaking Querrey in the fourth game with a crosscourt forehand and celebrating with a running jump and fist-pump. In the fourth set, Querrey saved two break points in the seventh game and held for 4-3.

But his serve was wilting in the afternoon sun, and a double-fault in the ninth game preceded a backhand into the net to give Nadal the decisive break.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily September 20, 2008)