Davis Cup 2012: Spain Eliminates USA On Sunday

Spain travels to Prague to play the Czech Republic this weekend in the 100th Davis Cup finals. To defend their 2011 title and take a fourth Davis Cup in five years, the Spanish team must beat a fifth-seeded Czech team that traveled to Argentina to knock off last year’s runner-up squad and this year’s No. 2 seed.

Spain’s lead singles player is David Ferrer, currently No. 5 in the ATP rankings; he opens the 100th Davis finals Friday against Radek Stepanek. The Czech Republic’s team is led by Tomas Berdych, the ATP No. 6; he faces Nicolas Almagro in the second singles match Friday. Ferrer is 6-3 lifetime against Stepanek; Berdych has defeated the No. 11 Almagro four of five times this year.

Spaniard David Ferrer defeated American John Isner in four sets Sunday in Gijon, Spain, to advance defending champion Spain into the 2012 Davis Cup final. A win by Isner would have kept the Americans hopes of reaching the final alive. The Ferrer victory sends Spain to the final for the fourth time in the last five years.

Ferrer improved to 16-0 on clay in Davis Cup competition with his 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over the 6’9” American. Isner was coming off a grueling five-set match on Friday with Nicolas Almagro. Isner’s 16-5 advantage in aces was easily outdone by his 70 unforced errors in the match, to just 32 for Ferrer.

Honestly, it is almost surprising that Andy Roddick didn’t retire a couple of weeks later. For all he accomplished in his career, his contributions to the United States’ Davis Cup cause were near the top of the list. But in 2012, the U.S. has advanced to the Cup semifinals not because of Roddick, but because of John Isner and the Bryan brothers. Isner has struggled in slams this year, but he has been indomitable when representing his country. And if the U.S. wants to make the finals against either Argentina or the Czech Republic, he will have to play even better.

On Friday, the semifinal matchup between Spain and the U.S. will take place on clay courts in Gijon. Spain holds the overall rankings advantage anyway, but on clay that advantage increases considerably, even with Spain’s best player, Rafael Nadal (a candidate for “Best clay court player of all-time”) sitting out with injury.

While Spain may be a clear favorite to win its semifinal matchup with the United States at home, the outcome of the other semifinal, on the clay in Buenos Aires, is far less certain. Both Argentina and the Czech Republic are led by highly-ranked, pure power hitters, but wildcards like Radek Stepanek and two low-ranked doubles squads could decide the outcome of this one. Argentina holds the advantage on its home court (and surface), but this could be very, very close.

Juan Martin Del Potro (Singles Ranking: No. 6)

Juan Monaco (Singles Ranking: No. 12)

Eduardo Schwank (Doubles Ranking: No. 60)

Carlos Berlocq (Doubles Ranking: No. 83)