Ferrer gives Spain 2-0 lead over Czech

BARCELONA, Spain – David Ferrer rallied for an improbable 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 8-6 victory over Radek Stepanek on Friday to give defending champion Spain a commanding 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic.

Earlier, Rafael Nadal relied on his usual dogged determination and timely shot-making to beat Tomas Berdych, 7-5, 6-0, 6-2, in the first singles match.

Stepanek then looked set to even the best-of-five series after steamrolling Ferrer in the first two sets.

But Ferrer, playing his first match in a month after a hamstring injury, battled back in the 4-hour, 17-minute match and got the decisive break in the 13th game of the final set. He clinched it when Stepanek sent a shot long on match point.

“It was maybe the most important (win) of my career; it’s the final of the Davis Cup,” said Ferrer, who improved to 12-4 in five-set matches. “(But) it all depends on if we win.”

Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco can clinch Spain’s fourth title on Saturday with a doubles win over Lukas Dlouhy and Jan Hajek.

Three-time champion Spain, which hasn’t lost at home in over a decade, is looking to become the first team since Sweden in 1998 to defend the trophy at the site where it won its first in 2000.

“Tomorrow we will have the first chance and Sunday two more,” captain Albert Costa said. “We are in a good way but we must remain calm and concentrated.”

The 12th-ranked Stepanek had 2,000 Czech fans at the Palau Sant Jordi roaring as he took nine straight games on his way to winning the first two sets. (AP)