Rafael Nadal showed he had put his exertions at the US Open firmly behind him when he thrashed France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-0, 6-2, 6-4 to put Spain through to the Davis Cup final in Cordoba, Spain, on Sunday.
Tsonga, who helped France to victory in Saturday's doubles to keep the best of five tie alive at 2-1, was powerless against Nadal's relentless claycourt game, as the World No. 2 claimed his 17th win in 18 Davis Cup singles matches.
The victory gives Spain, who are bidding for a third title in four years and will play champions Serbia or Argentina in December's final, an unbeatable 3-1 lead with only the final singles rubber to be played.
Serbia won Saturday's doubles in Belgrade to maintain their hopes of defending the title they won last year with a 3-2 victory over the French.
On another sweltering day in Cordoba, Nadal followed up his demolition of Richard Gasquet in Friday's opening singles with another commanding display on his favoured surface at the Andalusian city's converted bullring.
Argentina beat Serbia after Djokovic retires
Argentina took an unassailable 3-1 lead over Davis Cup holders Serbia in their semi-final after World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, retired hurt against Juan Martin Del Potro, in Belgrade, on Sunday.
Del Potro was leading 7-6, 3-0 when Djokovic fell to the ground with a scream of pain, appearing to have twisted his ankle as he blazed a forehand wide.
After he was helped to the bench by captain Bogdan Obradovic and his team mates, a tearful Djokovic embraced Del Potro and received a standing ovation from the 18,000 home crowd in the Belgrade Arena.
Three-times runners-up Argentina will play Spain in the final after the 2009 champions also took an insurmountable 3-1 lead against France on Sunday.
Play suspended in Australia vs Switzerland tie
Australia and Switzerland will have to wait until Monday to complete their battle for promotion to the Davis Cup world group after the deciding rubber between Lleyton Hewitt and Stanislas Wawrinka was suspended due to poor light in Sydney, on Sunday.
The Swiss was leading Hewitt 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 5-3 in the deciding set when the umpire suspended play with the Australian to serve.
Wawrinka, who went down to Bernard Tomic in the opening rubber and often struggles on grass, showed good spirit to fight back against the experienced Hewitt after losing the first and third sets.
Earlier, World No. 3 Roger Federer, levelled the tie at 2-2 with a 6-2, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 win over teenager Tomic.
