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MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina - Who needs Rafael Nadal?
Even without the top-ranked player, Spain won its third Davis Cup by beating Argentina on Sunday, thanks to Fernando Verdasco’s five-set victory over Jose Acasuso.
Verdasco outlasted Acasuso 6-3, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 before a boisterous Argentine crowd at Islas Malvinas Stadium. The fans went quiet as Argentina lost at home for the first time in 10 years in Davis Cup competition.
“It’s the most exciting victory of my life,” Verdasco said. “Playing for my country, against the best players, it’s a dream.”
Spain won its first Davis Cup title on the road, adding to victories against Australia in 2000 and the United States in 2004.
Verdasco, replacing David Ferrer in the reverse singles, overcame nine double-faults to beat a shaky Acasuso in 3 hours, 56 minutes. The 48th-ranked Acasuso was a late replacement for the injured Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina’s top-ranked player at No. 9.
Argentina entered the heavy favorite after Nadal withdrew last week because of a knee injury.
“Nadal gave us several victories, and thanks to him we are here,” Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario said. “But the players who are here are the ones who deserve all the credit now.”
After winning match point, Verdasco dropped to the court in celebration and was embraced by his teammates.
“Spectacular,” Nadal said on Spanish state television. “Sincerely, this is history.”
Nadal 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.”
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.”
Both players struggled on serve, with Verdasco broken five times and Acasuso on nine occasions.
Verdasco broke Acasuso’s service in the sixth game, going up 4-2 to easily win the first set.
That silenced the crowd, but Acasuso lifted the fans by winning the second-set tiebreaker after each player broke twice. One of the breaks came when Acasuso served for the set at 5-4.
The Argentine kept pressing in the third set, breaking Verdasco in the first game and twice more. Verdasco stayed in the match with a solid fourth set, breaking Acasuso to lead 4-2 and winning four of the last five games.
The Spaniard dominated the fifth set, winning the first four games and cruising to victory. Argentina last lost at home during Davis Cup competition in 1998 to Slovakia.
Argentina had reached the final twice, losing to the U.S. in 1981 and Russia in 2006.
Acasuso had won his only other match against Verdasco, whose Davis Cup singles record improved to 4-3. Acasuso is 5-3.
The 20-year-old Del Potro, one of the hottest players on tour this year, injured his right thigh in a four-set loss to Lopez on Friday. Verdasco came in for Ferrer after he lost his singles match in three sets to David Nalbandian on Friday.
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“When you lose such an important player like Juan Martin, it opens a big hole in the team,” Argentina captain Alberto Mancini said. “After that, things got complicated for us.”
The title moved Spain from fourth to second in Davis Cup rankings, behind Russia. Argentina would have reached No. 1 with a victory.
The United States won last year’s final, beating Russia.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
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