Verdasco gives Spain Davis Cup crown

Fernando Verdasco kept his nerve to steer Spain to their third Davis Cup triumph after a five-set win over Jose Acasuso at the Estadio Islas Malvinas in Mar del Plata.

Verdasco roared through the final set to claim a gruelling encounter 6-3 6-7 (3/7) 4-6 6-3 6-1 and give Spain an unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie with one rubber remaining.

The win secured Spain's first Davis Cup title since 2004 despite the absence of injured world number one Rafael Nadal, and shattered the Argentinians who have now finished runners-up three times.

The Spaniard, ranked 32 places higher than his opponent at 16 in the world, got the better of a nervy first set only for Acasuso to battle back with a noisy home crowd behind him to take a 2-1 lead.

But Verdasco clawed back to level and after Acasuso needed treatment at the end of the fourth set for an apparent side strain, Verdasco charged into a double-break lead he was never likely to surrender.

Acasuso saved his first two match points against him before Verdasco slammed a forehand down the line and sunk to his knees where he was mobbed by his jubilant team-mates.