Fernando Verdasco clinched the Davis Cup for Spain yesterday, beating Argentina's Jose Acasuso 6-3, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in a match that lasted nearly four hours to give his country and insurmountable 3-1 lead and its third title, as well as denying a first championship for the hosts of the finals at Mar del Plata.


"It is dream come true: I wanted this opportunity since I was kid and have take advantage of it,"he said.

"For me it is like wining a Great Slam (tournament)," Verdasco said and added that his rival "played very well" during the game that was held at the municipal sports center "Islas Malvinas" of Mar del Plata, located some 400km south to Buenos Aires.


"He made me doubt a lot about my victory, but at the Davis Cup you always fight till die," Verdasco said, when referring to Acasuso.


Despite the support of nearly 10,000 fans, Acasuso was not able to keep up with Verdasco, who played well in the doubles win alongside Feliciano Lopez on Saturday. Acasuso served 14 aces, but had 47 unforced errors.

"I was prepared for the match, but Verdasco played very well in the fourth and fifth sets," Acasuso said. "He started serving better and deserves a lot of credit for this win."

Spain, captained by Emilio Sanchez, captured its third Davis Cup title this decade, with the other wins coming in 2000 and 2004. Spain becomes the seventh nation to win the coveted chalice at least three times.

Emilio Sanchez Vicario paid tribute to Verdasco.

"It was an incredible match - all the guys were so nervous. Fernando was just the better player - he's very strong," said Sanchez Vicario, who added the Spanish would head off to party with "a lot of wine."

The Spaniards managed to complete their trophy hat-trick in the worldwide team competition without the services of Rafael Nadal, who is out with a knee injury.

"I think Rafael Nadal has given us great possibilities and brought triumphs for the team, against Germany and the U.S., and it's thanks to his wins that we are here," Sanchez Vicario told reporters.

"But the players who are here deserve the repercussions. They have brought the team forward so they deserve all the headlines and the praise."

Rafael Nadal told Spanish TV that he watched Fernando Verdasco's decisive five-set victory against Jose Acasuso from his home in Mallorca, Spain, and had a huge grin the whole time.

"I don't think it's possible to be any happier. They achieved something impressive," Nadal said. "To win in Argentina, which came in behind an enormous number of home ties without a loss and in such a difficult environment, not too many would have expected it. I'm happiest for them, the players."

He said he would've loved to have been in Argentina to celebrate with his teammates.

"Moments like these, sharing them with your teammates are unforgettable," Nadal said. "They played a tremendous tie — it's time for them to enjoy it."

Verdasco recognized the efforts of other players who helped Spain reach the final, including Nadal, Tommy Robredo and Nicolas Almagro.

"We have to thank Rafa, Tommy, Almagro," Verdasco said. "It is thanks to them we are here."

Just moments after Spain won its third Davis Cup title with a stunning 3-1 win over Argentina on Sunday, captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario confirmed that he is leaving the team.

"I won't be the captain against Serbia," Sanchez Vicario said, referring to Spain's first tie next year. "After three years, the cycle ends here, but with a good prize."

Sanchez Vicario praised his players and wished his successor, yet to be announced, the same luck he had as a captain.

"I'm very happy to share this experience with my players these years," Sanchez Vicario said. "This is the biggest prize for me, including as a player."

In singles on Friday, Spain's Feliciano Lopez defeated Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, and Argentina's David Nalbandian drubbed Spain's David Ferrer. In doubles on Saturday, Verdasco and Lopez beat Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri.



(source AP, photo/AP, Getty Images)

Spain beat Argentina to win third Davis Cup title