Spain Defeats Ecuador In Madrid
Pablo Carreno Busta survived a major scare Friday at the Davis Cup Finals, overcoming Emilio Gomez 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(5) to give Spain victory against Ecuador in Group A in Madrid.
The 30-year-old recovered from squandering a 5-2 lead in the third set and two match points at 5-3, raising his level in the third-set tie-break as he hit with great depth and power to seal his win against the World No. 149 after two hours and 39 minutes.
"I am very happy because it was an important victory," Carreno Busta said. "We now lead 2-0 and have the win. It is very important for the confidence and for the rhythm. In the second set and third set I felt more comfortable than in the first set. I had to continue fighting until the end because he played really well."
A fired up Feliciano Lopez had given Spain a 1-0 lead when he recorded his seventh singles win at the Davis Cup Finals, defeating Roberto Quiroz 6-3, 6-3.
The 40-year-old hit 13 aces and saved all five break points he faced to earn victory after 82 minutes in front of a lively home crowd at the Madrid Arena.
“I still have the passion for the game,” Lopez said. “Without that passion I wouldn’t be here. I am 40 years old and have been playing on the Tour for such a long time and it is true without this passion it would not be possible to keep training each day. I have been waiting for moments like this, giving the first point to my country.”
Carreno Busta and Marcel Granollers then sealed the win for Spain in style, edging Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) after two hours and 45 minutes.