Verdasco wins Davis Cup for Spain
By David Ornstein
Fernando Verdasco came through a tense five-set encounter with Jose Acasuso to hand Spain a hard-earned victory over Argentina in the Davis Cup final.
Verdasco won the first set but Acasuso, standing in for Juan Martin del Potro, rallied to take the second and third.
Acasuso was backed by a boisterous home crowd in Mar del Plata but tired badly in the fifth and Verdasco came through 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 4-6 6-2 6-1.
That put Spain 3-1 up with one rubber to spare in the best-of-five tie.
David Nalbandian was ready to take on Feliciano Lopez in what Argentina hoped would be the decisive rubber but the world number 11, a vocal supporter from the sidelines, did not get the chance.
The hosts were bidding for their first Davis Cup title after finishing runners-up to the United States in 1981 and Russia in 2006.
For Spain, who were champions in 2000 and 2004, Verdasco's win marked their third Davis Cup triumph.
"It's like a dream come true and maybe the most beautiful day of my life," said Verdasco. "I tried my best all year to win the Davis Cup and I am happy for everyone in Spain.
"I was waiting for my chances to attack but when I saw the match was going badly and I was going to lose I thought I would try everything I could to turn it around.
"If it didn't work then ok but I wanted to try my best and in the end it worked."
Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario selected Verdasco ahead of the off-form David Ferrer and the decision paid dividends.
Ferrer had been outclassed by Nalbandian in Friday's opening singles while Verdasco was in fine form as he helped Lopez to victory over Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri in Saturday's doubles rubber.
In the opening exchanges there was little to choose between world number 16 Verdaso and Acasuso, ranked 48.
The Spaniard increased the pressure and broke to love for a 4-2 lead before serving out the set but Acasuso responded positively.
With Verdasco's serve beginning to falter, Acasuso opened up a 2-0 lead in the second set but he was pegged back before an exchange of breaks resulted in a tie-break.
A combination of stunning groundstrokes and unforced errors by Verdasco enabled the 26-year-old to come through and he grew in confidence in the third set.
Umpire Jake Garner was forced to urge silence from the crowd with increasing regularity and it seemed that Verdasco was struggling to concentrate.
Breaks were exchanged before Verdasco drew level at 4-4 but, the very next game, Acasuso unleashed a stunning forehand winner down the line to take a 5-4 lead before serving out the set.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7744757.stm And without Rafa.