David Ferrer Seals Spain's Win Over USA

David Ferrer sealed Spain's place in the Davis Cup semi-final with a 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 7-6 (7/5) victory over Mardy Fish - which saw Spain beat the USA 3-1.

Going into the match 2-1 down it was a match that Fish had to win to keep U.S. hopes alive in the tie but faced an uphill struggle when he fell two sets behind.

But the American crowd got behind their man as he broke Ferrer as he served for the match at the end of the third set to take them into a fourth.

Despite going down an early break Fish hit back in fourth and a tie break was needed after they were still locked together at 6-6.

And it looked like Ferrer had finally got the measure of the American when he went 3-0 up in that breaker, only for Fish to hit back once again and level at 3-3.

But Ferrer didn't crumble under the pressure as he wrapped up the tie break 7-5 to seal the match and the tie.

Speaking to the AFP Ferrer said: "I fought a lot and it is a very special moment for me. We practised for a week on this court.

"It was not the most difficult Davis Cup tie for us but it was still difficult."

Spain won the title back in 2009 and faced a tough test of playing the USA on American soil, in Austin and without their number one player Rafael Nadal.

But the tie couldn't have started better for the visitors as Feliciano Lopez beat Fish in a five set epic to get the first point on the board.

Ferrer then beat home favourite Andy Roddick in a straightforward straight sets victory that pit Spain in the driving seat 2-0 at the end of day 1.

The singles was a match that was expected to go the way of the Americans as the Bryan brothers, the top ranked doubles pair in the world, took on Fernando Verdasco and Marcel Granollers.

But it was Spain who took the opening set before the Bryan's hit back to win in four sets and keep American hopes alive.

Ferrer's win meant that the final rubber between Andy Roddick and Feliciano Lopez was dead and the match did not go ahead.

Spain will now face France in the semi-final as they overcame Germany 1-4 in Stuttgart. The other semi sees defending champions Serbia face Argentina.

Despite the withdrawal of new world number one Novak Djokovic from the singles on Friday with a knee injury Serbia still came through the tie 1-4 away from home. While Argentina handed Kazakhstan a 5-0 thrashing.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw