The Spanish Armada was in intimidating form against the Czech Republic this weekend in Barcelona, winning the first three matches of the final and claiming the Davis Cup title for the second year in a row.
A strong cocktail of red clay, home crowd and team spirit was just what Rafael Nadal needed to perk up his flagging confidence after last week’s poor performance at the World Tour Finals. He beat Tomas Berdych handily in Friday’s first match of the tie: 7-5, 6-0, 6-2. And he was pretty happy about it:
Photo by Sergio Caroma via DavisCup.com
Is it just me, or did Rafa return to his old pumped up, scissor-kicking, guns ‘n’ buns self this weekend? Oh, the wonders of Davis Cup:
The shoes and head band certainly added to Rafa’s raging bull look.
Friday’s second match was a five set, four hours plus thriller between David Ferrer and Radek Stepanek. Stepanek opened the match with what Ferrer described as a “one-man show,” losing just three games in the first two sets. But apparently leading two sets to none isn’t enough against a Spaniard on his native clay, and the feisty Feru battled back to earn the second point for his team on Day One: 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 8-6.
“I believe this one was one of the most tense matches I’ve ever played.” Ferrer said afterwards. “I had wishes to cry after the first two sets and now is the same because I’m so happy. I have to also thank the crowd for their support.”
Radek needed some support of his own after that wrenching loss:
Photo by Paul Zimmer via DavisCup.com
Despite his star players’ crushing losses, the Czech captain decided to go with experience over fresh legs in the doubles rubber, substituting in Stepanek and Berdych for the untested team of Dlouhy/Hajek. But the photogenic southpaws, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez, were victorious, winning the match 7-6(7), 7-5, 6-2, and earning their Kodak moments:
Photo by Sergio Carmona via DavisCup.com
I think F-Lo is saying “Two times! Two times!” Since he and ‘Nando led a Rafa-less squad to DC glory against Argentina last year.
Team Spain joined Fer and Feli’s celebratory love fest – I guess that makes it a celebratory orgy:
The Czech team leaves Spain with some memories and an embarrassing t-shirt:
Photo by Paul Zimmer via DavisCup.com
The Spaniards don’t have much time to sip champagne in their Davis Cup trophy. The Armada faces the Team Suisse in March, when DC competition starts all over again. Roger Federer hasn’t pledged to participate in the tie – yet. I think he’ll be inspired by the news that Spain and Switzerland are scheduled to meet each other first in June’s World Cup – why not get the national fervor going early?
But for the rest of 2009, it’s VAMOS! all the way.
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