PARIS - Defending champions Spain reached a sixth Davis Cup final in 10 years yesterday with victory over the US and will tackle the Czech Republic, who shocked Argentina in Buenos Aires, in November's final.
The title clash will be a repeat of the 2009 championship match in which Spain routed the Czechs 5-0 on home clay in Barcelona.
But this time, Spain will travel to the Czechs who'll have the choice of surface in the November 16-18 showdown.
Spain will be playing in their fourth final since 2008 after David Ferrer gave them a 3-1 victory over the US, beating John Isner 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-4 6-2 on the clay courts of Gijon.
"This is a dream for me — another Davis Cup final," said Ferrer.
"It was unbelievable, the atmosphere supported me the whole match."
The US had kept the tie alive with a doubles victory by twins Bob and Mike Bryan on Saturday, but US Open semi-finalist Ferrer, on his favourite red clay, prevailed over Isner, the world number 10.
"It's disappointing. The Spanish team was just too good," Isner said.
Ferrer, currently number one in his country's team in Rafael Nadal's absence, recorded his 16th Davis Cup victory in a row on clay while Spain clinched a 24th successive home victory in the tournament, a run stretching back to 1999. Nadal could make a return for the final if he recovers from the knee injury that kept him out of the Olympics and the US Open, but Spain captain Alex Corretja avoided speculating.
"We will monitor the players over the coming weeks, talk to all those we think appropriate, and go and see what condition they are in and then choose the players we think appropriate," said Corretja.
"We always hope to count on everyone and obviously Rafa is the same as everyone else."
In Buenos Aires, world No.6 Tomas Berdych defeated Carlos Berlocq 6-3 6-3 6-4 as the Czechs secured a 3-1 win over four-time runners-up Argentina.
Berlocq, the world 45, had been drafted in as replacement for eighth-ranked, former US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro who suffered a left wrist injury in his win over Radek Stepanek in Friday's opening singles.