By Peter Laca
BRATISLAVA, March 5 - Slovakia ended Spain's Davis
Cup reign on Saturday, snatching the doubles match in their
World Group first round tie to take an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Just three months after beating the United States to win the
cup for the second time, the depleted Spanish Armada was sunk by
a fast surface and a pesky Slovak team that launched an all-out
attack at its opponents.
"This type of court is very difficult for us and they
returned serve better," a dejecded Spanish captain Jordi Arrese
said after Karol Beck and Michal Mertinak had clinched the tie
with a tight 7-6 6-4 7-6 win over Rafael Nadal and Alberto
Costa.
"But the important thing is that we tried our best and
performed well... but they were better than us.
"Of course it is disappointing to lose in the first round
especially if you are a titleholder. But that is sport.
"Now we have to put our forces together to stay in the World
Group."
Spain were without the powerful Carlos Moya, who left the
Davis Cup behind to concentrate on grand slams this year, while
other leading Spaniards Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo
were out due to injury.
Nonetheless, they started as clear favourites having reached
the final three times in the pasÿt five years, winning the title
twice while Slovakia had only made it back to the World Group
two years ago and has never made it past the quarter-finals.
HEROIC UPSET
Beck and Mertinak clinched the heroic upset with victory
over Nadal and Costa after Dominik Hrbaty and Beck had put the
upstart Slovaks 2-0 ahead in the opening singles on Friday.
"The Spaniards fought hard, it's rare to see resistance that
is so tough," Slovak captain Miroslav Mecir said.
"I have always said that Rafael Nadal is a great player and
a personality that does not give up, and this makes our victory
even more precious.
"My players played very well throughout the weekend and I am
really satisfied with their performances. They handled the
pressure perfectly and they were aware that you shouldn't waste
any opportunities against the high quality Spanish players."
With everything on the line, both sides battled in a tight
first set that saw only two missed break points -- one for each
team. But the Slovaks showed more deter`ination in the tiebreak
taking it 7-3 and the set in one hour.
The Spaniards appeared to lose their focus after the
tiebreak, producing a string of unforced errors that allowed the
Slovaks to break Costa's serve in the third game. Meanwhile, the
Slovaks rolled along on their serve, never facing a break point
and never looking at risk.
Another tight set ensued, with the Slovaks fending off four
set-points and climbing back into the match before Beck clinched
the deciding tiebreak with a service winner to complete the
upset in two hours and 35 minutes.
"They (Slovaks) played better than us in the key points...
We tried to do our best, and we are proud of what we did, but
they were better," Arrese said.