Spain took a commanding 2-0 lead here Friday over Argentina in the Davis Cup final after Rafael Nadal breezed to an easy victory and David Ferrer rallied to win a five-set marathon in the opening singles matches.

In the first contest, Nadal, the world No. 2, took no mercy on good friend Juan Monaco, breezing to a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 victory in a relatively short, two-hour, 27-minute baseline slugfest.

Monaco started off the match with a service hold, albeit after saving three break points, but the 10-time Grand Slam champ then reeled off six consecutive games to take complete control in the early going at Seville’s Olympic Stadium.