Stunning Spain win doubles in Davis Cup
Saturday, 22 Nov 2008 20:24
Feliciano Lopez has won both his matches so far
Underdogs Spain are one match away from winning the Davis Cup after Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco won the doubles rubber today.
The left-handed duo won a toughly-contested four set match 5-7 7-5 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 against Argentinian pair David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri and now have a 2-1 lead.
Spain have two chances to get their hands on the trophy in the reverse singles matched tomorrow when Lopez takes on Nalbandian and David Ferrer plays Juan Martin Del Potro in the last match.
It marks a remarkable performance in the final so far by Spain, who are playing without the talismanic Rafael Nadal after he was ruled out through injury.
With the tie delicately placed at 1-1 after yesterday's singles matches, Argentina decided to bring in Nalbandian for the doubles and the decision looked to paying off as they took the first by breaking Verdasco in the 11th game of the set.
But Spain hit back and the second set went similar to the first, but this time it was Nalbandian who saw his serve broken in the 11th game as Spain took it 7-5.
The crucial point in the match was definitely the pulsating 62 minute third set. Spain broke twice to take a 5-1 lead, but Argentina, who were being roared on by partisan home crowd, fought back to take the set to a tie-break.
Argentina looked to have pulled off a remarkable comeback in the third set as they took a 5-1 lead in the tie-break. But Lopez and Verdasco dug deep and sensationally took six points in a row to take the third set.
The Argentinian fans and players seemed to be completely deflated after the drama of the third set and Spain took the fourth set 6-3 to wrap up a crucial win.