Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek won the first Davis Cup title for the Czech Republic as an independent nation by beating the defending champions Spain 3-2 in the final Sunday.

Czech Republic's win was a two-man show as Berdych and Stepanek first played the opening singles, then won the doubles before sweating through the reverse singles.

Legendary tennis player Ivan Lendl and Tomas Smid had performed a similar feat 32 years back for Czechoslovakia by defeating Italy 4-1.

"They've been our inspiration, our idols," the Associated Press quoted Stepanek as saying. "They're the legends and now we're joining them.

In the last singles match Stepanek defeated Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 7-6 (0), 3-6, 6-3 to complete a deserved 3-2 victory.

On the fast courts of Prague, the world number 37 Stepanek stunned the world number 11 Almagro with his express serves and volleys. Enthralled Czech teammates Berdych, Lukas Rosol, Ivo Minar and captain Jaroslav Navratil congratulated him on his very special victory.

"I'm living a dream," Stepanek said. "We have been working very hard very hard for this moment. It was the biggest pressure under which I've ever played.

"Everything was at stake. I was playing very aggressive today. I wanted be the one who is active, who is controlling the game. It paid off, even though I lost the third set. I had no doubt I was on the way (to victory)."

Berdych, who had earlier lost the finald day's singles match to David Ferrer which made the tie 2-2, added: "This is a moment we'll never forget."

The Czechs have double reason to celebrate now, as just two weeks back their women's team had won the Fed Cup. Last time, the United States had achieved this double feat in 1990.

The Czech team was on a mission to win the Davis Cup since 2007, when they defeated Switzerland in Prague in the World Cup playoff. Stepanek and Berdych have won 12 doubles matches out of the total 13 they have played.

"We've been dreaming about it since the series against Switzerland," Stepanek said. "Whatever it takes in the Davis Cup, we'll go through it."

David Ferrer, who had beaten Berdych 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in the first reverse singles on Sunday, was hopeful of winning fourth Davis Cup title in five years for Spain, who were without their talisman Rafael Nadal, but Stepanek had other ideas.

"We're sad at this moment," Ferrer said. "I'm very proud of our team. We were fighting to win here in Prague."