Murcia, Spain  - Substitutes David Ferrero and Juan Carlos Ferrero came up with easy wins Friday to send holder Spain surging to a 2-0 lead over Israel in the Davis Cup World Group semi-final.

Ferrer, replacing Fernando Verdasco, hero of the 2008 final over Argentina, got the hosts off to a fast start, pounding Harel Levy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. It was equally straightforward for teammate Juan Carlos Ferrero, fast approaching his 30th birthday.

The former number one was merciless as he played in place of injured Rafael Nadal for a 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 thrashing of Dudi Sela.

"It wasn't as comfortable as it might have looked," said Ferrer, who was watched in victory by both Nadal and Verdasco. "It was hard to finish off points on such a slow (clay) court."

Ferrero broke seven times in the two-and-a-half hour encounter as he dominated against the 140th-ranked Levy.

Spain are well-placed to wrap up a spot in a second straight final after beating Argentina last December for the title, with doubles set for Saturday in the southern seaside resort.

The hosts were to field Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo against the Israeli pair of Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich.

In the other semi in Porec, Croatia, the hosts were playing the Czech Republic.  dpa