TENNIS DAVIS CUP:SPAIN COMPLETED a 5-0 Davis Cup final victory over the Czech Republic with Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer enjoying easy singles wins in Barcelona yesterday.
Nadal, who set Spain on their way to victory by winning the first point against Tomas Berdych on Friday, returned to the clay court at the Palau Sant Jordi to help himself to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Jan Hajek.
Ferrer, whose exhausting five-set victory over Radek Stepanek had given Spain their second point, rounded things off with a more straightforward 6-4, 6-2 win against Lukas Dlouhy, finishing off with a huge smash to the delight of the crowd.
Spain made certain of their fourth Davis Cup win when they moved into a 3-0 lead after Saturday’s doubles victory for Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez against Berdych and Stepanek.
The two closing victories yesterday made them the first team to win the final with a whitewash since Sweden beat the United States 5-0 in 1997.
They are also the first country to successfully defend the title since the Swedes in 1998.
There was a slightly muted air about the celebrations when the Spanish team finally received the silver salad bowl trophy.
“It is a little strange to have to wait until today for the presentations,” Spanish non-playing captain Albert Costa said afterwards.
“But winning the Davis Cup two years in a row is a spectacular achievement. We should value it enormously.”
It was a satisfying weekend all round for the hosts, with Nadal showing he has recovered form and fitness at the end of a trying season and Ferrer’s heroic win over Stepanek providing epic drama with a happy ending for the huge crowd.
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