Team Spain ousts Team USA to move into the semi-finals – Davis Cup 2011
The wish was granted--Spain eliminated the United States on the weekend of July 11th and the 12th in the quarter finals of the Davis Cup 2011 in Austin, Texas, securing their place in the semi-finals.
The first two singles rubbers and the doubles match played at the Flank Erwin Center rounded Spain an unassailable 2-1 lead against USA. The top ranked Spaniard in the team, David Ferrer pink slipped Austinite Andy Roddick on Friday
in straight sets and then, later on Sunday he ram sacked Mardy Fish, triumphing 7-5, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 7-6 (5) to give Spain a final 3-1 win over the U.S. in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
The 29 year old, clay court specialist, David Ferrer suffocated Fishlike a fish out of water time and time again. A wall standing at the back of the court, Ferrer, bounced back every serve that came his way. The nail biting Sunday’s
single’s rubber saw a cliff hanger of a tie until the final hand to hand decider which concluded the victory. Fish had a chance to slip back into the water and out swim his opponent, however, his shots were as if magnetically drawn to the net giving Ferrer
a competitive edge. The fourth set could have gone Fish’s way too, but Ferrer sunk him to the bottom of the ocean thus beating him 7-6(5) in the tiebreaker.
Fish showed true sportsmanship by complementing his opponent at the end of the match by saying, “He’s very good from the baseline and is one of the best movers in the world. That’s how he makes his living”.
In addition to the Man of the match (David Ferrer) other members of the team included Feliciano Lopez, Marcel Granollers, and Fernando Verdasco. On the contrary team USA comprised of Mardy Fish, Andy Roddick and the Bryan bothers,
Mike and Bob. Although Rafael Nadal was absent, team USA posed no great threat to the Spanish bullfighters.
The two countries have had a “mano-a-mano” of contesting against each other; previously America was leading the series 5-4, however, after the quarterfinals the Spaniards have managed to achieve an all time head-to-head record
of 5-5 and thus made history by ambushing the Americans on their own soil.
Spain has steamrolled to its victories in the Davis Cup finals 4 times during the last decade triumphing in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009. The final match of 2009 saw Spain whitewash Czech Republic 5-0 in Barcelona, Spain.
Bagging, yet another accomplishment under their belts the Spanish bullfighters will be fencing the French in the semi-finals in September.
Tags: