It looked like the US team was set to win the Davis Cup quarter final, but the Spaniards had another thing in mind. Spain was facing opponents sans Rafael Nadal, who decided to skip the matches after his Wimbledon loss. However, his absence wasn’t about to get his teammates down. The Spanish team tore through the singles matches without a single loss to build up a strong 3-1 lead to deny Andy Roddick that chance for a victory in his own court.
David Ferrer, number 6 in the world led the charge, beating Mardy Fish with a 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 7-6 (5) after a grueling four hour match on Sunday that clinched the win for the Spaniards. This was followed by jubilant celebration as the Spanish team gathered around Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco stood up and acknowledged the small band of Spanish team supporters who stood by them for the past three days.
“The people, they are giving everything. It is a pleasure to be their captain,” Albert Costa, the team captain said.
Feliciano Lopez had defeated Fish earlier in the singles match on Friday, and Ferrer defeated Andy Roddick in straight sets, to the dismay of the home crowd. However, the US team did not lose all the way. They did win Saturday’s doubles, and a win by Fish on Saturday would have placed the deciding match on Roddick.
This is the Spanish team’s first victory on US soil sends the Spanish team to the semifinals where they are set to face off against France. Spain will be playing for its third Davis Cup title in four years.
“Spain is probably the deepest team out there right now in men’s tennis,” said Jim Courier. “Playing Spain home or away is going to be tough, with or without Rafa.”