SanLuisObispo.com: Tennis

Nadal-less Spain upsets Argentina in Davis Cup

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:51 PST

By By TALES AZZONI -- Who needs Rafael Nadal?

Even without the top-ranked player, Spain won its third Davis Cup by beating Argentina on Sunday, thanks to Fernando Verdasco's five-set victory over Jose Acasuso.

Verdasco outlasted Acasuso 6-3, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 before a boisterous Argentine crowd at Islas Malvinas Stadium. The fans went quiet as Argentina lost at home for the first time in 10 years in Davis Cup competition.

Nadal-less Spain upsets Argentina in Davis Cup

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:31 PST

By By TALES AZZONI -- Spain won its third Davis Cup title without the services of top-ranked Rafael Nadal, upsetting Argentina 3-1 in the final on Sunday.

Fernando Verdasco outlasted Jose Acasuso 6-3, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in front of a boisterous Argentine crowd at Islas Malvinas Stadium. Argentina lost at home for the first time in 10 years in Davis Cup competition.

"It's the most exciting victory of my life," Verdasco said. "Playing for my country, against the best players, it's a dream.

Lopez upsets del Potro as Spain evens final

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:42 PST

By By TALES AZZONI -- Feliciano Lopez upset Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-3 Friday, allowing Spain to escape the first day of the Davis Cup final tied 1-1 tie with Argentina.

David Nalbandian brushed aside David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the opening singles, and del Potro was expected to comfortably handle Lopez on his favored hard court.

But Lopez took the two tiebreakers, and del Potro injured his right thigh in the sixth game of the fourth set. After treatment, he lost his serve and Lopez cruised to victory in 3 hours, 19 minutes, hushing the boisterous crowd of about 10,000 at Islas Malvinas Stadium.

2008: Prince Rafa dethroned King Roger

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:48 PST

By By Scott Riley, Sports Network -- The 2008 men's tennis season was full of highlights, but the biggest ones were provided by Rafael Nadal, who halted Roger Federer's five-year reign at Wimbledon and supplanted the mighty Swiss atop the rankings, a perch Federer owned for a record 4 1/2 years without interruption.

Nadal was easily the ATP player of the year, posting a brilliant 82-11 record and piling up a tour-best eight titles. Three of his championships came at three of the sexiest events, as the lefty captured his first-ever Wimbledon title by stunning Federer, secured a fourth straight French Open crown by besting Federer in the final for a third straight year, and also won Olympic gold at the Summer Games in Beijing. He became the first-ever male to win those three events in the same year, and did it on three different surfaces.

So much for him being a one-trick (clay) pony.

2008: Prince Rafa dethroned King Roger

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:53 PST

So much for him being a one-trick (clay) pony.

Verdasco lifts Spain to third Davis Cup title

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:00 PST

By By Sports Network -- Fernando Verdasco was the hero on Sunday, as the lefthander outlasted fellow slugger Jose Acasuso to give visiting Spain an insurmountable 3-1 lead in its best-of-five Davis Cup final against Argentina. The Spaniards won their third Davis Cup title in nine years.

Sunday's schedule called for the reverse singles on Day 3 at Mar del Plata, and in the first, and only, rubber of the day, Spain got the huge victory from Verdasco, who was inserted into the lineup in place of an out-of-form David Ferrer. Acasuso also played as a replacement, as he got the call instead of rising 20-year-old star Juan Martin del Potro from Argentine captain Alberto Mancini, but things didn't quite work out for the stunned hosts. Del Potro was unable to go due to a leg strain suffered here on Friday.

The 25-year-old Verdasco needed 3 hours, 56 minutes to outlast a game Acasuso 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, as Acasuso finally ran out of gas in the fifth set. The Argentine required some medical attention for a stomach muscle strain early in the final stanza, one that was dominated by his talented Spanish counterpart.

Spain, Argentina tied at 1-1 in Davis Cup final

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:27 PST

By By Sports Network -- The 2008 Davis Cup World Group final commenced Friday, as visiting Spain and host Argentina are knotted at 1-1 following the opening singles rubbers.

The best-of-five championship round got underway when Argentine star David Nalbandian spanked Spaniard David Ferrer 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, but Feliciano Lopez surprisingly pulled Spain even with a 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory over rising world No. 9 Argentine slugger Juan Martin del Potro at Mar del Plata.

The world No. 11 Nalbandian outclassed the 12th-ranked Ferrer in just under two hours on the indoor hardcourt here at Estadio Islas Malvinas.

Nalbandian-Ferrer will open Davis Cup final

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:25 PST

By By Sports Network -- When the 2008 Davis Cup final between host Argentina and Spain commences on Friday, the host nation's David Nalbandian will battle the visitors' David Ferrer in the opening singles rubber in Mar del Plata.

The draw for the best-of-five tie was revealed Thursday at the palatial surroundings of the NH Provincial Hotel.

The world No. 12 Ferrer is 6-3 lifetime against the 11th-ranked Nalbandian, but the Argentine has won two of their last three meetings. The two men have not met this year and have never faced off in Davis Cup play.

Federer beats Blake in exhibition match

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:04 PST

By By VIJAY JOSHI -- Roger Federer overcame an ailing back to beat James Blake in a one-set exhibition Tuesday.

Federer rallied from 3-1 down to win 7-6, taking the tiebreaker 10-7. His victory came days after a sore back contributed his struggles at the Masters Cup, where he failed to reach the semifinals.

John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg also played at the "Showdown of Champions," which included four one-set matches.