Spain beats Czech Rep; Wins 2009 Davis Cup

The Spanish duo of Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco beat Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych in straight sets to give the Spaniards an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the 2009 Davis Cup Finals. Spain won its second straight Davis Cup title and becomes the first repeat winner since Sweden in 1997 - 1998. The win also assured Spain of its 4th win during this decade - the most successful team in the past 10 years.

On Friday, world #2 Rafael Nadal beat Tomas Berdych in straight sets to stop an 8-set losing streak that started with a semifinals loss to Novak Djokovic at the Paris Masters in November. Later in the day, David Ferrer, Spain's #3 player and world #18 beat the world #12 Radek Stepanek to give Spain a 2-0 lead. Fernando Verdasco at #9 teamed with #47 Feliciano Lopez to go against Stepanek and Berdych in the doubles match. After Stepanek netted a shot on match point to hand Spain the title, the crowd erupted with chants of “campeones” (champions).

The tie was held at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain - the same venue where Spain took its first Davis Cup title 9 years ago. Crown Prince Felipe was on hand to witness the winning moment, and Lopez threw his wrist band to him while the team and the crowd celebrated.

The 4th championship for Spain was achieved on their 7th trip to the Davis Cup Finals. They had 2 trips in the 1960s but lost the tie both times to Australia. They first won in 2000, reached the finals in 2003 before losing to Australia, and won in 2004 and 2008.

The United States remains the most successful Davis Cup team with 32 wins but has only won 4 times since 1990. Australia is second with 28 wins followed by France and Great Britain (9 wins), Sweden (7) and then Spain (4).

The following is a list of Davis Cup champions and finalists after World War II:

2008 Spain beat Argentina 3-1
2007 U.S. beat Russia 4-1
2006 Russia beat Argentina 3-2
2005 Croatia beat Slovakia 3-2
2004 Spain beat U.S. 3-2
2003 Australia beat Spain 3-1
2002 Russia beat France 3-2
2001 France beat Australia 3-2
2000 Spain beat Australia 3-1
1999 Australia beat France 3-2
1998 Sweden beat Italy 4-1
1997 Sweden beat U.S. 5-0
1996 France beat Sweden 3-2
1995 U.S. beat Russia 3-2
1994 Sweden beat Russia 4-1
1993 Germany beat Australia 4-1
1992 U.S. beat Switzerland 3-1
1991 France beat U.S. 3-1
1990 U.S. beat Australia 3-2
1989 Germany beat Sweden 3-2
1988 Germany beat Sweden 4-1
1987 Sweden beat India 5-0
1986 Australia beat Sweden 3-2
1985 Sweden beat Germany 3-2
1984 Sweden beat U.S. 4-1
1983 Australia beat Sweden 3-2
1982 U.S. beat France 4-1
1981 U.S. beat Argentina 3-1
1980 Czechoslovakia beat Italy 4-1
1979 U.S. beat Italy 5-0
1978 U.S. beat Britain 4-1
1977 Australia beat Italy 3-1
1976 Italy beat Chile 4-1
1975 Sweden beat Czechoslovakia 3-2
1974 South Africa beat India (walkover)
1973 Australia beat U.S. 5-0
1972 U.S. beat Romania 3-2
1971 U.S. beat Romania 3-2
1970 U.S. beat Germany 5-0
1969 U.S. beat Romania 5-0
1968 U.S. beat Australia 4-1
1967 Australia beat Spain 4-1
1966 Australia beat India 4-1
1965 Australia beat Spain 4-1
1964 Australia beat U.S. 3-2
1963 U.S. beat Australia 3-2
1962 Australia beat Mexico 5-0
1961 Australia beat Italy 5-0
1960 Australia beat Italy 4-1
1959 Australia beat U.S. 3-2
1958 U.S. beat Australia 3-2
1957 Australia beat U.S. 3-2
1956 Australia beat U.S. 5-0
1955 Australia beat U.S. 5-0
1954 U.S. beat Australia 3-2
1953 Australia beat U.S. 3-2
1952 Australia beat U.S. 4-1
1951 Australia beat U.S. 3-2
1950 Australia beat U.S. 4-1
1949 U.S. beat Australia 4-1
1948 U.S. beat Australia 5-0
1947 U.S. beat Australia 4-1
1946 U.S. beat Australia 5-0