DAVIS CUP SEMIFINALS

'Near Perfect' Rafa Leads Spain Into Final; Argentina Next

Argentina will host Spain in the Davis Cup final from November 21-23 after the two nations respectively defeated Russia and defending champion U.S. on Sunday.
Argentina is looking to win its first Davis Cup title after coming up just shy of victory in 1981 against the U.S. and in 2006 against Russia, both of which were away ties. Spain is through to it sixth Davis Cup final, and its first since defeating the U.S. for the 2004 title. The Spaniards won their first Davis Cup title in 2000 by defeating Australia, and were runners-up to Australia in 1965, '67 and 2003.
Spain has won its previous two meetings against Argentina, when they played host in the 1926 quarterfinals and 2003 semifinals.

SPAIN 4, UNITED STATES 1

ATP World No. 1 Rafael Nadal clubbed 60 winners to clinch the decisive singles against American Andy Roddick and lead Spain into the Davis Cup final. Nadal, who needed four sets on Day 1 to defeat Sam Querrey, dismissed Roddick 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 to give the host nation an unbeatable 3-1 lead.
"Today I play an almost perfect match and it is very, very exciting," said Nadal, who has now won ten straight Davis Cup singles matches. "Today I played very well. I shocked myself with some of the winners I played... was near perfect tennis."
Roddick, who failed to convert on seven break point chances against Nadal, said: "He's possibly the best clay-courter ever so it’s tough, especially when he hits like he did today."
The 26-year-old Roddick had entered the semifinal tie with a nine match winning streak in Davis Cup singles action, but lost to World No. 5 David Ferrer in an 8-6 fifth set on Friday to put the defending champions behind 0-2. Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish had kept U.S. hopes alive when they prevailed against Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco in five sets in the doubles rubber on Saturday.
The Americans had previously rallied once in 32 attempts when trailing 0-2 -- 74 years ago against Great Britain. The last time the U.S. reached back-to-back finals was in 1991-92.
Feliciano Lopez closed the semifinal tie with a 7-6(3), 7-6(4) win against Querrey in a match that featured no breaks of serve.