Spain have defeated Argentina 3-1 to win the 2011 Davis Cup

SEVILLE, SPAIN, ITF Press Release Dec 04, 2011: Spain have defeated Argentina 3-1 to win the 2011 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Final in Seville on 2-4 December. This is Spain’s fifth Davis Cup title, having previously been champions in 2000, 2004 and 2008-09. Argentina have now lost all four finals they have contested, having previously been runners-up in 1981, 2006 and 2008.

Rafael Nadal defeated Juan Martin del Potro 16 64 61 76(0) at Seville’s Olympic Stadium on Sunday to hand Spain their fifth Davis Cup by BNP Paribas title. The classic contest lasted 4 hours 8 minutes. Nadal was completely dominated at the start of the match as del Potro raced out of the blocks and won seven straight games to take a set and a break lead, but the world No. 2 snatched a crucial game at the start of the second set that swung the momentum.

When Nadal broke again to win the second set it looked like he was on his way to a comfortable victory. He walked through the third set and went a break up at the start of the fourth, but then del Potro, lifted by the Argentine fans, staged a remarkable comeback.

In an enthralling fourth set, which swung one way and then the other on more than a few occasions, del Potro served to take the match into a decider, only for Nadal to break back. A few moments later the Spaniard found himself serving for it, but this time del Potro broke back.

The rubber headed into a tiebreak and Nadal immediately took control, never looking back. He was utterly ruthless and completed the perfect ‘golden’ breaker with a winning forehand, a shot which sealed Spain’s crown of Davis Cup champion for the fifth time.

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest annual international team competition in sport with 130 nations entered in 2011. The title sponsor is BNP Paribas, the Official Bank of Davis Cup. International sponsors are Turismo Madrid (Official Tourist Destination), HP (Official Technology Sponsor), Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Hugo Boss (Official Men’s Fashion Clothing Sponsor), Adecco (Official HR Partner) and NH Hoteles (Official Hotel). Wilson Sporting Goods (Official Ball) is an international partner. This was the 99th Davis Cup Final, with the 100th final taking place in 2012 at the start of the ITF centenary celebrations in 2013.

WORLD GROUP FINAL

SPAIN defeated ARGENTINA 3-1

Venue: Olympic Stadium, Seville (clay – indoors)

Friday

Rafael Nadal (ESP) d. Juan Monaco (ARG) 61 61 62

David Ferrer (ESP) d. Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) 62 67(2) 36 64 63

Saturday

David Nalbandian / Eduardo Schwank (ARG) d. Feliciano Lopez / Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 64 62 63

Sunday

Rafael Nadal (ESP) d. Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) 16 64 61 76(0)

Fifth rubber not played

ITF Press Release Dec 02, 2011: Please find the latest results from the 2011 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Final between Spain and Argentina in Seville on 2-4 December. Play is scheduled to start at 16:00 (15:00 GMT) on Saturday and 13:00 (12:00 GMT) on Sunday.

Live scoring for the Final is available on the official Davis Cup website throughout the weekend, in addition to live radio commentary, video streaming, game-by-game text updates, match reports, interviews, blogs, photos and scorecards. Follow all the action from Seville on www.daviscup.com and www.copadavis.com.

The ITF has recently launched a Davis Cup Supporter Survey which will run until the start of 2012 on the official Davis Cup website. The purpose is to learn more about the people who make Davis Cup special – the fans – with the information helping the ITF to promote the competition and attract commercial partners. Fans who complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw for tickets to any World Group tie in 2012 (full terms and conditions are on the website).

This is the 99th Davis Cup Final, with the 100th final taking place in 2012 at the start of the ITF centenary celebrations in 2013.

WORLD GROUP FINAL

SPAIN leads ARGENTINA 2-0

Venue: Olympic Stadium, Seville (clay – indoors)

Friday

Rafael Nadal (ESP) d. Juan Monaco (ARG) 61 61 62

David Ferrer (ESP) d. Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) 62 67(2) 36 64 63

Saturday

Feliciano Lopez / Fernando Verdasco (ESP) v David Nalbandian / Eduardo Schwank (ARG)

Sunday

Rafael Nadal (ESP) v Juan Martin del Potro (ARG)

David Ferrer (ESP) v Juan Monaco (ARG)