David Ferrer Masterclass Keeps Spanish Hopes Alive

Written by: Staff on 18th November 2012

David Ferrer Masterclass Keeps Spanish Hopes Alive

epa03476222 David Ferrer of Spain returns the ball to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their match of the Davis Cup final between the Czech Republic and Spain in Prague, Czech Republic, 18 November 2012. EPA/FILIP SINGER |

(Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/11/46/Davis-Cup-Sunday.aspx)

The 100th Davis Cup final will be decided in a fifth rubber in Prague after David Ferrer drew five-time champion Spain level at 2-2 by defeating Czech No. 1 Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 on Sunday. World No. 11 Nicolas Almagro will look to complete the comeback for the visiting nation when he faces Radek Stepanek.

Spain is contesting the final of the ITF men’s team competition for the fourth time in five years and is bidding to win the title for the sixth time since 2000. Spain also defeated Czech Republic in the 2009 final on clay in Barcelona. The Czechs are looking to win the Davis Cup trophy for the first time since 1980.

World No. 5 Ferrer produced a masterclass to keep Spain’s hopes alive. The Valencia native opened up a 4-2 lead and fended off three break points for Berdych in the following game before breaking the Czech player again in the eighth game to clinch the first set.

Ferrer then capitalised on his momentum to secure an early break in the second set. He served out the set to 15 in the ninth game and put Spain firmly in control when he broke Berdych again for a 3-1 lead in the third set.

Berdych rallied to draw level in the eighth game as Ferrer miscued a forehand. But the Spaniard regained the lead with a break of serve in the 11th game after out-rallying Berdych and served out victory in two hours and 25 minutes with a service hold to love.

“I’m very happy with my game,” said Ferrer. “I played very aggressive. [Berdych] played a lot of matches [this weekend], five sets with Nicolas, yesterday four sets. I played very focussed and started very good. My first serve and forehand were very good; I hit a lot of winners. It was my best match of the year.”

The 30-year-old Ferrer recorded an ATP World Tour-best 76th match win of the season. The right-hander has won seven ATP World Tour titles this season and is undefeated in Davis Cup play in 2012.

The 27-year-old Berdych suffered his first defeat in a Davis Cup rubber since March 2011, when he fell to Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev. Since then, the right-hander had won 12 successive rubbers, including victory over Almagro on Friday and success in the doubles with Stepanek on Saturday.

Topics: David Ferrer, Davis Cup, Davis Cup Finals 2012, deportes, noticias de la copa Davis, Spanish tennis news, Sports, tenis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych