David Ferrer kept five-time champion Spain alive in the Davis Cup final as he pulled the visitors level 2-2 with the Czech Republic through a 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Tomas Berdych on Sunday. The weekend came down to the final reverse singles rubber, with Czech Radek Stepanek facing Nicolas Almagro, the first fifth-set situation since Belgrade two years ago when Serbia won over France.
Spain have won four of the last five editions of the world-wide team competition and have played this season without injured Rafael Nadal. Ferrer won in just under two and a half hours with five breaks of Berdych, who had spent more than seven hours on court through seven sets of tennis over the previous two days. The world number five Spaniard won his 76th match, which will leave him as the leader in that category for 2012 on the ATP.
Ferrer hit 38 winners including eight aces while Berdych struck 11 aces but also 35 unforced errors. "I'm very happy with my game, I played very consistent," said the 30-year-old Ferrer, winner of seven titles on the ATP this season.
"I knew he might be tired after playing so much tennis. But I don't want to think of him, I've just ended the best season of my career. "I was very focused and aggressive and I started the match very well, I played well with my first serve and forehand. I hit a lot of winners."
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