Verdasco hands Spain third Davis Cup title

Fernando Verdasco won the Davis Cup for Spain here on Sunday, beating Argentina's Jose Acasuso 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to give his country a third title after 2000 and 2004 and deny the hosts a first.

Verdasco's success in 3hr 56min gave the Spanish, shorn of the services of injured world number one Rafael Nadal, a winning 3-1 lead.

"It's like a dream come true - it's the most beautiful day of my life," beamed Verdasco.

"It's a nice sensation. It's a great day for all the people in Spain."

Argentina had been hoping to land their first ever triumph in the competition after final losses away from home in 1981 against the United States and Russia two years ago - but Verdasco produced a fighting performance against a partisan crowd to secure the 'salad bowl' for the Spanish.

A thumping drive on his third match point wrapped up the win for Verdasco against a cramping opponent who ran out of steam after going two sets to one ahead and the Spaniard pumped his fists, then embraced his squadmates as the home crowd looked on aghast.

Spanish skipper Emilio Sanchez Vicario paid tribute to his man.

"It was an incredible match - all the guys were so nervous. Fernando was just the better player - he's very strong," said Sanchez Vicario.

Acasuso said the defeat was hard to take.

"There was a lot of sadness in the locker room after the loss and the fact that three of the four of us lost to Russia two years ago means that the pain was double," he said.

Sunday's match was to have pitted up-and-coming Argentine star Juan Martin del Potro against David Ferrer but the former had to cry off after suffering a groin strain during his opening-day loss to Feliciano Lopez while Ferrer was shellshocked by Friday's drubbing at the hands of David Nalbandian.

Acasuso, a 26-year-old from Buenos Aires with only three minor career titles to his name, almost became a Davis Cup hero when he took Russia's Marat Safin to five sets in the decisive rubber during the 2006 final.

But once again he was unable to last the distance.

Verdasco, a 25-year-old from Madrid with two career titles, made a tremendous start and did his best to dampen down the raucous 11,000 home crowd as he broke to love for a 4-2 lead before a wide forehand from his rival clinched the opening set in 35min.

The Spaniard promptly suffered an attack of the jitters, twice double-faulting as he gifted Acasuso a 2-0 lead in the second set and the Argentine then held to streak 3-0 clear.

A further pair of double faults almost cost Verdasco dear but he just held for 2-4.

There followed a run of breaks as Verdasco forced the tiebreak, where Acasuso was fastest out of the blocks to level the contest.

Verdasco had pulled off a momentous showing on Saturday alongside Lopez to see off Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri in the doubles to bring Spain to the brink of another title which many had thought beyond them in the injury absence of Nadal.

The protagonists had split the opening-day singles with Lopez stunning number one Argentine Del Potro after Nalbandian had crushed Ferrer.

Worryingly for Argentina, in the last 36 years of Davis Cup finals, only three times had the doubles victors not gone on to win the title.

But Acasuso was not dwelling on that statistic and it was Verdasco who was feeling the heat as yet another double fault saw him drop serve at the start of the third set with Acasuso pounding down a slew of big forehands.

The pair traded breaks but Acasuso seized the moment as he belted down an ace before a confident overhead smash set up set point - which he netted and then drove wide on his second opportunity.

Third time round an ace finally moved him a set clear.

Verdasco pocketed a break for a 4-2 lead in the fourth, then served out to love to force a decider, where he broke twice in quick succession to race 4-0 clear.

The hard work done, he let slip two chances before completing the win on his third match point.

MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina, Monday (AFP)