World number one Rafael Nadal beat Philipp Kohlschreiber to level Spain's Davis Cup quarter-final against Germany in his first match since January.
Nadal won 6-2 6-2 6-3 to set a new Davis Cup record for combined singles and doubles victories with 23 in a row.
The 16-time Grand Slam winner, 30, had been out since retiring with a hip problem against Marin Cilic in the last eight of the Australian Open.
Alexander Zverev beat David Ferrer 6-4 6-2 6-2 in the opening tie in Valencia.
"It's positive of course, winning in straight sets," said Nadal.