Davis Cup win cherry on cake for Spanish sports in 2008
Spain's come from behind Davis Cup win over hosts Argentina at the
weekend added yet another trophy to the impressive collection racked up
by Spain in 2008.
"Spain is sports," top-selling daily newspaper El Pais wrote Monday,
one day after Spain won the most prestigious team title in men's tennis
for the third time.
The paper added the country's sports success was its "best window" to
the world.
Fernando Verdasco clinched the Davis Cup for Spain with a thrilling
6-3, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Argentina's Jose Acasuso in Mar Del
Plata on Sunday in the best-of-five series.
The win came despite the last-minute withdrawal of world number one
Rafael Nadal through injury and it followed Spain's Euro 2008 victory in
June and cyclist Carlos Sastre's win in the Tour de France.
"The Plan B was made of gold," wrote daily newspaper El Mundo.
"Spain does not depend only on its stars. It also has today an
impressive second line of attack," wrote El Pais. Spain won the European
football championship on June 29 with a 1-0 victory over Germany despite
being without David Villa, the top scorer at the finals, due to injury.
In 2006 Spain became the world basketball champion in Japan without
its biggest star, Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol who was also
injured.
Contador meanwhile became the first rider in 25 years to win all
three of cycling's major races with his victories this year in the Giro
D'Italia and the Tour of Spain. He won the Tour de France last year.
"It's an unforgettable moment and they have made history. Fernando
was brilliant - absolutely amazing from the fourth set," Nadal told
Spanish public television TVE after Spain's Davis Cup win.
The 22-year-old contributed to Spain's steller year in sports by
winning eight titles this season, including his fourth French Open crown
and first Wimbledon trophy, and becoming the first Spanish tennis player
to win an Olympic gold medal.
Earlier this year he became the new world number one tennis player,
ending Switzerland's Roger Federer run of 237 weeks top the ATP
rankings.
MADRID, Tuesday AFP |