David Ferrer won a classic Davis Cup rubber against Juan Martin Del Potro to put Spain on the brink of winning the title for the fifth time.
Ferrer dealt Argentina's hopes a hammer blow by winning one of the all-time classic Davis Cup rubbers to see off Del Potro 6-2, 6-7(2), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in an epic encounter which lasted nigh on five hours.
No one does baseline grinding as effectively as Ferrer and he left Del Potro a broken man by the end of the tie, sobbing into his towel as Ferrer basked in the adulation of the thousands of Spanish supporters packed into Seville's former Olympic stadium.
The world number five has pulled off these sort of wins on crucial occasions so many times in the past. Two years ago he effectively ended the Czech Republic's hopes when he gave Spain a 2-0 lead in that final with a five set win over Radek Stepanek.
"I'm really happy," Ferrer said. "In 2009 I won against Stepanek in the fifth set and today I played one of the best matches of my career. I'm very happy as it's the final of the Davis Cup and it's very important for us. I'm very, very tired as I played four hours and a half. Now I want to rest, I want to relax and we'll be focusing on tomorrow. Of course (if needed) I will play Sunday."
“This court gives me a chance to play a little bit more relaxed, with a little bit more confidence. Sometimes you can hit a bad shot or two bad shots in a row, still in the point, and you can come back later. That's one of my best things on clay. Hard indoor, if I hit one or two bad shots in a row, the point is done.”
