Spain storms to victory in Texas

Before the weekend started in Austin, Texas, members of the Spain team were heard summoning what they called el espíritu de Mar del Plata, in reference to the victorious 2008 raid in Argentinean territory to bring home what was Spain's third Davis Cup trophy- before 2009's parade on clay to a fourth salad bowl, when all of Spain's matches were home draws.

Mar del Plata spirit refers to the ability to overcome two key obstacles to Spanish ambition: one, the absence of the country's best player Rafa Nadal. Two: the selection by the host team of a fast, zippy surface and the aim of creating a hostile and noisy indoor atmosphere. In Austin against the USA, as in the seaside resort of Mar del Plata, both these requisites were fulfilled, but the victory secured by David Ferrer in the first of Sunday's scheduled singles rubbers provided a new word for Spain's Davis Cup lexicon: el austinazo.

The 3-1 victory, set up by opening-day wins by Feliciano López over Mardy Fish and Ferrer over Andy Roddick, before the Bryan twins picked up a predictable point in Saturday's doubles match, is the first ever for Spain on US soil, and brings the score in the overall series between the two nations to five wins apiece.

That Spain did it without Nadal, who announced in June that he would be resting this month before the US hard-court season begins, makes the feeling even sweeter. It was anything but easy, however.

"It was a very dramatic match," Ferrer said after his 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 7-6 victory over Fish to clinch the quarterfinal tie. "I had a lot of break points against me and I held on hard with my mentality."

Fish too, despite looking nervous and extremely fragile at times on his forehand, played boldly when his serve came under pressure, producing aces and volleyed winners to push every set into a tight finish. Ferrer let his tempo slip in the third, although he still had a chance on service to take it into a tie-break before finally succumbing 5-7. It was the only set he lost after winning three straight against Roddick on Friday, the Spaniard again proving stronger than his opponent at clutch moments.

"This is a reward for the team; we knew we could do it," Ferrer said moments after the winning point had seen riotous celebrations break out among the players and coaching staff. The Spanish contingent offered vocal encouragement throughout the weekend's matches, whereas after Friday's nightmare start the US bench seemed a less comfortable place to be.

The crowd, too, provided only sporadic support to the increasingly dispirited Fish, who time and again dragged his feet on the walk to his bench where USA captain Jim Courier tried to quietly instill greater confidence in the world number nine with a gentle word and a light pat on the back.

On the other side of the umpire's chair, Albert Costa stood or knelt before his player, exhorting him to keep believing in his chances. But motivation is what Ferrer is good at - better, he says than tennis itself, the world number six famously having called himself the "worst player in the top 100."

"Spain has never beaten the USA in this country," Costa said. "To win against Roddick, Fish and the Bryans, I think this is a great team. For us it's historic."

And history - the Davis Cup version of swinging fortunes as the right to choose venue alternates between rivals - is on Spain's side for September's semifinal against France. The exact location will be discussed over the coming weeks, but there is no doubt what the surface will be. With or without Nadal, Spain will be a big favorite on clay, not having lost at home since 1999. In the other semifinal, reigning champion Serbia hosts Argentina.