copa davis

Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco joined forces, engage the best and won the third and final point with which Spain took his fourth Davis Cup title today by beating the Czechs Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek 7-6 (7 ), 7-5, 6-2 in two hours and 46 minutes, at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.

In an atmosphere of total euphoria, Prince Felipe de Bourbon in the rostrum, rounded off his Spanish team has the history of this competition to his fourth crown in ten years. The first win came at this same stage in 2000 to Australia, 3-1, in which heat was present King Juan Carlos.

The second, in the Cartuja in Seville, the U.S. imposed on 3-2, with the presence of the Prince of Asturias, and third last year, beating at home to Argentina in the Malvinas Stadium in Mar del Plata, 3-1. Prince Philip was a memory of this end, the wristband Feliciano Lopez, launched by the Toledo into his hands, after Verdasco finish off the last point, with a blow that Stepanek could not reach the network.

"Feli" and "Fer" played the best match of his twelve interventions in Davis Cup since Emilio Sanchez, then a captain, I met the team to visit Belarus in Minsk in 2006 in the first round against Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov, and sealed the victory. In Minsk fell without much opposition, but little by little have known dock and take responsibility for the item twice, always vital, as was demonstrated last year against the Argentines and as reflected in the Davis Cup history, which says that since 1972 the winning team end it is always done with this crucial point, except for three occasions.

In total the two lefties now total six wins. They have been exchanging feelings and shrinking spaces, well-defined scheme. The two draw well, better Feliciano, now not even once gave his service, while Verdasco throws full weight of the ball from the bottom, so that "Feli" impose his best volley into the net. Not the Spanish had it easy in today's meeting. Berdych and Stepanek had never lost in his five Davis Cup matches, and this year in its three interventions had dropped a set against Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Richard Gasquet in the first round. Berdych also never been defeated in the Davis Cup with another partner.

But everything changes in a Davis Cup final, including statistics, and although the Czechs had also won the Spanish at the only confrontation between the two in ATP tournament in Cincinnati last year, lefties Albert Costa showed a tennis great level of undo this mess. Jaroslav Navratil, Czech captain, it is played in this match, and placed in double Stepanek, knowing Kavrina than had been exhausted at last night's encounter against David Ferrer in four hours and 28 minutes and five sets.

Stepanek is the leader and take responsibility and surely it was he who asked to play, despite having won fewer forces would arrive today for the first game Sunday against Rafael Nadal. But that was the trick of the Czech team, join today and push one's luck on Sunday, leaving on the bench Lukas Dlouhy, sixth-best doubles player in the world, winner of this year Roland Garros and U.S. Open with India's Leander Paes, with whom he secured a berth for the Masters Cup doubles.

It was not easy as the Spanish team, which in the first set he met the rest of the magic that he had yet to Stepanek in his wrist. The first set was decided in the tiebreaker, in which Lopez and Verdasco had to solve a set point against with Berdych's serve for Verdasco apuntillar with that of the fourth time after a hour and 12 minutes.

In the second, equality refused to break with the Spanish to maintain its high level, especially Feliciano in the network, while Berdych doubted and, indeed, committed two double faults in succession in one of their services. For there he entered the game in Spain, which went bankrupt in the eleventh to Tomas apuntillar Feliciano then this act with a direct throw lightning.

The euphoria was already unleashed in the Palau. She looked around the fourth crown and felt the ravages over Stepanek on Friday. He yielded his serve to start, then rolled on the floor and then handed it back to the 4-1. In an electric atmosphere, with flags flying, waving handkerchiefs and the public on Feliciano took to win. He could not finish off with an ace as he wanted, but right from Verdasco, the same who took the final point against Argentina's Jose Acasuso in last year led to the failure of Stepanek and point to the story.

"My motivation is that," said Nadal, again in a final of this competition after having had to lose last year

The Spanish team number one, Rafael Nadal, faces charges of motivation the Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic, encouraged by the possibility of harvesting a new success in his career and to polish the end of the year 2009 after his participation Masters Cup in London. The Spaniard, who open confrontation with the game against Central-box number two, Tomas Berdych, said "the thing" that matters is winning the Davis Cup. "

"My motivation is that," said Nadal, again in a final of this competition had to after losing last year in Mar del Plata, Argentina face. "They needed me last year. I was a spectator," recalled Nadal, who relies on well being. "We'll see after tomorrow," said Rafael Nadal, who is reunited with Berdych, with a few years ago, at the Masters Series Madrid, had a scuffle that "it is forgotten."

"With Berdych have an excellent relationship. That was a scuffle but that was years ago. We were wrong and rectify both. For nothing is a bad guy. It is a quiet person with whom I train often and with which, even went to play doubles in Bangkok, but then I could not because he was injured ", partly due to the number one Spanish. Rafael Nadal reconnects with clay. A surface which does not competed since May 31 when he was knocked out of Roland Garros for the Swede Robin Soderling.

"It is clear that the change of surface need time to adapt. Within the time it has been for this, I am sufficiently well-adjusted. Although the final adjustment is accomplished by playing matches. I have to start right from the start. It costs a little more but I hope that is enough. I have trained well and we did a good job. I'm happy with the work week I've done, "said Nadal.

The public input in a Davis Cup duel "is fundamental." "The public has a major role. It is a plus. The only two benefits that you have at home in the Davis Cup are the choice of the surface and the public, which is what we must help. We know that sometimes help to win. But when hard times come you can help achieve victory. Hopefully it is noticed, "he said Nadal.

Since Rafa Nadal lost the world No. 1 Roger Federer at the expense of the Balearic Islands has declared active and passive that his goal this season was to finish the year in the most dignified as possible, with the goals of the Masters Cup and all the Davis Cup final but did not pass through his head that returning to the Swiss address the global throne

Since Rafa Nadal lost the world No. 1 Roger Federer at the expense of the Balearic Islands has declared active and passive that his aim this season was to finish the year in the most dignified as possible, with the goals of the Masters Cup and especially the Davis Cup final but his head did not go back to what approach the Swiss world for the throne. However, the good results that have accompanied Nadal in recent days that they can return to speculate with the firm. Is it crazy to think that Nadal can finish the year 2009 in the first step of the classification? The numbers do not lie ...

The 2009 calendar is consumed and there is only one tournament in dispute in addition to the Davis Cup final to be measured to Spain and the Czech Republic in Barcelona from 4 to 6 December: the Masters Cup this year is held at the O2 in London . The "Masters Tournament-meet, if no last-minute low, the top eight tennis rackets international scene, in which there are two Spanish, Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco. The latter will be the focus of all eyes for a dual purpose: victory in a tournament that has never won to date and secondly the possibility, albeit with carambola, reclaiming the world number 1 who lost the last 6 July after 46 weeks at the head of the ATP rankings.

At this time the difference between Roger Federer (10,150 points) and Rafael Nadal (9,205 points) is only 945 points. In the Masters Cup, every tennis player must play a minimum of three games, can add 200 points for each win, well, victory in the semifinals would add another 400 points and the end another 500 more. Making accounts for the Spanish forward the Swiss in the classification should occur as follows: - That Nadal win every game (1,500 points) and Federer will not win any games (0 points), only one (200 points) or just two (400 points). - Nadal wins the tournament but lost a game round robin (1,300 points) and Federer will not win any game (0 points) or only one (200 points). - Nadal only lost the final (1,000 points) and Federer will not win any games (0 points).

MARK forward the list on Wednesday in his diary · Costa will be watching developments in the injury of David Ferrer to the last moment · Tommy Robredo will be the fifth man, common in the coach calls

Albert Costa went to Paris last Sunday with the homework done. Although follow-up makes a last Spanish players in his head already has decided the quartet that will play the Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic, from 4 to 6 December. Rafael Nadal, who has missed the last two qualifiers through injury and is leading the next-Navy-Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez. You will have the chance to recover also from its low last year against Argentina.

Costa finished outlining his team during the Valencia Open 500, where he took the opportunity to talk in person with Verdasco, Lopez and Ferrer, who explained what their plans were. The presence of Nadal, No. 2 ATP, was rather than decided. The Spaniard, depending on the final development might even jump on Saturday in the doubles point, although the initial idea is that coach Rafa just concentrate on singles.

Ferrero will not be one of the biggest surprises in the call will be made official on Monday in Logroño is the exclusion, even as a reserve, Juan Carlos Ferrero. The Valencian, who helped in the two previous rounds to reach the final, has been discarded as the fifth player in favor of Tommy Robredo.

Thus, Ferrero, low this week at the Paris Masters in 1000 of a cold that left him with very low defenses, can not wear short in the same place, the Palau Sant Jordi, where he began his career at dawn 2000, when he was instrumental in the victory in the first Davis Cup title won by the Spanish courts. Robredo, who has been in all calls for Albert Costa since he is captain of team will await the recovery of Ferrer, who suffers from the adductor magnus microrrotura left leg.

The Spanish Tennis Federation went on sale the 5,500 seats available to the general public to attend the final in a single payment for three days. The rest, up to the 16,500 places in the Palau Sant Jordi, are divided between those that correspond to the International Federation, invitations, sponsors, federal and Czech fans, who were entitled to 10% of capacity, 1,500 entries.