Even without superstar Rafael Nadal, Spain's Davis Cup team proved to be one of the strongest and deepest, beating the United States to advance to the finals against the Czech Republic.
David Ferrer continued his dominance on clay as he defeated John Isner 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday to advance. Spain will face the Czech Republic on the road after winning 3-1 against the U.S.
Ferrer has won 16 straight matches on clay and took advantage of 70 unforaced errors by Isner.
"Spain is the high water mark in the Davis Cup in the last 15 years. We always knew it was going to be close," U.S. captain Jim Courier told the Associated Press. "They have great individual players, great depth and great passion for Davis Cup. It's not rocket science. You have great ingredients and you have to blend them together, and they do a great job."
The win gave Spain a 24-match home winning streak.
Ferrer had planned to scale back his Davis Cup play, but after the injury to Nadal, decided to join the team this year.
"This is the competition in which I have felt the most emotions in. I'm a team player," said Ferrer, who has played a part in each of Spain's last three titles. "I don't know how much longer my career will last, so I want to do my best possible in the Davis Cup. (Spain captain) Alex Corretja motivated me to play this season."
Isner started off well, serving hard and playing some great forehands, but Ferrer outlasted him on the clay. Isner was able to take the first set on a tiebreaker, but later Ferrer saved a number of break points in the match and had half as many unforced errors as Isner.
"I was going to fight, but in the fourth set he got on a bit of a roll," Isner said. "I don't think I got any free points on my serve; he returned my serve great in that fourth set, and he was playing with a lot of confidence."
On the other side of the tournament, Tomas Berdych beat Carlos Berlocq of Argentina in three sets, winning 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the finals against Spain.
The Czech team took an insurmountable 3-1 lead with the win, which originally was supposed to feature Juan Martin del Potro, who sat out with a wrist injury.
"This is going to be the highlight of my career up until now," Berdych said of facing Spain. "It is going to be very difficult playing against Spain, the champion, but at least we are lucky to be playing at home."
Argentina had made it to last year's final, but lost to Spain. The team has been hurt greatly by injuries, including to del Potro and to David Nalbandian. After losing the doubles match over the weekend, Argentina had to win every match left to have a chance at staying in.
Berdych was fantastic for the Czech's, winning all three points the team needed to advance.
"To win three points in three days - especially in this place - I just feel great," Berdych said.
It will be the first final played in Czechoslovakia since 1980. The Davis Cup finals will be held Nov. 16-18.
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