Tommy Robredo showed experience and leadership and took the first step that should lead Spain to dispute in September the promotion playoff to the World Group. The site of the pentacampeon is not the second division, and the gerundense, who was recruited urgently by the rookie Conchita Martínez due to the injury of David Ferrer, applied himself to give Spain the 1-0 in Vladivostok. He defeated the star project Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-3 and 6-3.

The experience of Robredo, 21st in the world and 33 years old, was noticeable against the tall Muscovite, champion of Roland Garros junior in 2014. Rublev has the makings of a star, having defeated Fernando Verdasco and Pablo Carreño this year, but he lacks muscle in his 1.88m body. Connected with Conchita since Monday ("she has helped me a lot," he acknowledged), Robredo took advantage of Rublev's ups and downs and attacked his weak backhand.

The Fetisov Arena, used to ice hockey, saw its stands filled with an uninspiring crowd. Cold as it should be in Vladivostok, a city closed to foreigners until 1992 and base of the Soviet Pacific fleet and now Russia's. In the first set, Robredo broke in the fourth game, let the advantage slip away, and broke again for 5-2.

Accustomed to military decorations, in Vladivostok Tommy's "medals" shone. In the second set, two breaks took him to 6-3. In the third, cramps appeared in Rublev's weak physique, who resisted but ultimately surrendered 6-3 to Spain's leader: 8 aces and 97% of points won with second serves that saved him when needed. Now, Pablo Andújar (32nd, 29 years old) has the opportunity to give Spain a balsamic 2-0 against another young player, Karen Khachanov (19 years old, 187th).