Defending champion Spain beats Czech Republic in doubles to win 4th Davis Cup

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Spain beats Czechs in doubles to win Davis Cup

BARCELONA, Spain — Spain won its second straight Davis Cup and showed that its tennis talent extends beyond Rafael Nadal.

Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco beat Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7), 7-5, 6-2 on clay Saturday to give the Spaniards an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Spain captured its fourth title since 2000 and is the first repeat winner since Sweden 11 years ago.

Stepanek netted a shot on match point to hand Spain the title at the same venue where it took its first title nine years ago. Lopez threw his wrist band to Crown Prince Felipe after the team bench emptied to chants of “campeones” (champions) at Palau Sant Jordi.

“We didn’t expect to win it this quickly,” captain Albert Costa said. “The key to this team has been its unity.”

Nadal, the four-time French Open champion, beat Berdych in Friday’s singles. He missed last year’s final victory at Argentina on a carpet designed to stop the Spanish mastery of clay.

“First thing, you have to have good players,” Nadal said, referring to his team’s prowess. “In Spain, we have a lot. Sure, last year was disappointing for me not to be there, but for sure the team was better. They play unbelievable and they won, so they did much better without me than with me.”

Spain has played in five finals this decade. It is unbeaten in its last 20 series on clay and has won 18 straight at home, dating to 1999.

“That says everything — to win four times in nine years. It shows how strong Spanish tennis is in general,” Stepanek said. “The team is so strong, you have four players now in the team but you can build up a second team that is nearly as strong.”

Spain is the sixth most successful team in the competition’s 108-year history after the United States (32 titles), Australia (28), France and Britain (9) and Sweden (7).

“I don’t think this team has any limits,” Costa said. “The only worry we can have is maybe motivation.”

Spain took advantage of Berdych’s shaky serve for three of its four breaks. Verdasco overcame early jitters to help clinch the title for the second straight year by scoring two key breaks, including in the 14th game of the second set. The ninth-ranked player won the deciding singles match in Argentina last year.

The Czechs played their third final and first since Ivan Lendl guided Czechoslovakia to victory in 1980. Only one team has recovered from an 0-2 deficit — Australia against the United States 70 years ago.

Berdych lost to Nadal, and Stepanek blew a two-set advantage in a four-hour defeat to David Ferrer.

“Yesterday was a lot worse, I suffered a lot worse,” Nadal said. “Today, we had the calm of being 2-0 up.”

The Czechs played their third final and first since Ivan Lendl guided Czechoslovakia to victory in 1980. Only one team has recovered from an 0-2 deficit — Australia against the United States 70 years ago. Spain improved to 4-2 against the Czechs.

The Spanish team prides itself on its unity in a country where allegiances can sometimes divide along regional lines. Costa made a point of bringing Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo to the news conference because they also played a part this year.

“I think to play for our country, for all of us, it’s very special,” Lopez said. “It’s an extra motivation that we all have.”