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Spain wins Davis Cup
Fernando Verdasco helped Spain reclaim the Davis Cup as he outlasted Jose Acasuso, 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Acasuso. The triumph by Verdasco gave Spain a unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie.
Despite missing world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, Spain won the Davis Cup for the first time since 2004, while shattering the hopes of Argentina, which has now finished as runner-up three times. Verdasco was keen to note the impact of Nadal, who had scored three singles victories, including two in the semifinal against the United States, to set up their final chance. “I have to remember Rafael Nadal because we played the Davis Cup final thanks to him,” Verdasco said. “This is one of the happiest days in my life.
I am so happy for playing the final.” Victory for Verdasco was vindication of the brave decision by Spain captain Emilio Sanchez to replace the higher-ranked David Ferrer, who had been badly beaten in the opening rubber by David Nalbandian. And it heaped more final misery on the hosts, for whom Acasuso was a replacement for the injured Juan Martin Del Potro, and who failed to keep alive their hopes of claiming their first title in their third Davis Cup final.
Nalbandian’s opening win had been forgotten in the swirl of a marathon Saturday doubles which gave the Spaniards a 2-1 lead heading into the final day, and it was Verdasco who held his nerve and kept fatigue at bay to clinch victory. After flashing the winning forehand down the line to wrap up a dominant fifth set, Verdasco sank to his knees and was mobbed by his teammates, including doubles partner Feliciano Lopez and Ferrer. “This is a dream that came true,” Ferrer said. “I am extremely happy.
Winning the Davis Cup was our dream and we have achieved it. We also proved Spain has a great team even without Rafa.” Verdasco’s clincher, lasting four minutes short of four hours, will not go down as a Davis Cup classic but the tension ensured a tight match changed momentum and kept the outcome in doubt through four tight sets. Verdasco had made a strong start against a plainly nervous opponent, securing the crucial first break in the sixth game of the match and going on to take the first set in 35 minutes. Acasuso, ranked 32 places lower than his opponent, fought back to take the first break in the second set but a dreadful series of unforced errors allowed the Spaniard to break back and ultimately serve his way into a tie-break.
The Argentinine held his nerve in a wild atmosphere, twice earning a mini-break before edging towards set point and sparking loud celebrations when Verdasco netted to level the match. The pair twice swapped breaks in a nervous third with the Spaniard’s serve in particular horribly mis-firing, before Acasuso grabbed the crucial third break in the ninth game of the set, and served out with an ace to claim the lead.
Verdasco would rally again in the fourth set, breaking on a long Acasuso backhand for a 4-2 lead and keeping his concentration to serve out and level the score at two sets each. The loss of the set was hard for Acasuso, who needed extensive medical treatment on an apparent side strain before the decider, and, although he did not look unduly troubled by the injury, promptly fell a double-break behind. For the first time in the match, Verdasco was brimming with confidence and consistency and he served in style to move to the brink of victory. On his third match point, he flashed down the winner and the title belonged to Spain.
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