Rafael Nadal got the winning point as Spain won a fifth Davis Cup title here on Sunday. The world number two beat Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro to give the hosts an unbeatable 3-1 lead, rallying from a set down to see off the 2009 US Open champion 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7/0). “It was an unbelievable match. These guys are great and that’s why we were in the final,” said Spanish captain Albert Costa. “Rafa tried to play deeper and harder because at the start Del Potro was inside the line and hitting so hard. He fought hard so that’s why we won.” Nadal and David Ferrer had won Friday’s opening singles before David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank kept Argentina’s hopes alive by beating Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco in Saturday’s doubles. Spain previously won the titles in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009.
But there was more heartbreak for Argentina who become the first nation to lose four finals — they also lost to Spain in the final three years ago at home. Del Potro, who lost a marathon five setter to Ferrer on Friday, had gotten off to a strong start leading 6-1, 1-0 and 40-0 on his service against Nadal. But Nadal hung on to get back into the match as Del Potro began to show signs of the fatigue from Friday’s five-hour marathon playing with both of his thighs bandaged.
