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David Ferrer found inspiration and energy, drinking from the sea of gold and red at the Olympic Stadium in Seville to fight back from the brink against Juan Martin Del Potro to clinch a momentous 6-2 6-7(2) 3-6 6-4 6-3 victory in an epic 4 hour 46 minute battle that left Spain on the verge of a fifth Davis Cup title in just eleven years. Earlier in the day, Rafael Nadal was at his ruthless best as he dismissed Juan Monaco for the loss of just four games to put Spain ahead in the Davis Cup finals.

The sight of clay and the sound of vamos from 28,000 flag toting Spanish fans in the stands must have reignited the flickering passion of Rafael Nadal. The world No. 2 was on the ball from the first minute of play – forcing Juan Monaco to stave off three break points before holding serve with an ace.

It did not take long though for the first break, as Monaco failed to clear the net in the third game to offer the Spaniard yet another opportunity. Nadal converted this time with a gorgeous forehand down the line that Monaco failed to reach. The theme for the rubber was firmly established when Rafa raced away with the set breaking the 26^th ranked Argentine two more times to close out the first set 6-1 in 49minutes.

The forehand was on song and the fist was pumping, which meant that all was well again in the world of Rafa, after his disappointing run at the Tour Finals in London. Rafa was playing impeccable tennis, often racing into position even before his opponent got to the ball leaving the Spaniard with the time and options he needs to dictate terms.

And he did exactly that, crushing his opponent under the weight of his 27 winners most of which came off his forehand flank. Monaco wilted under the incessant pressure, scrambling to just stay in the points and his 35 unforced errors did the Argentine cause no favours. In the end Nadal romped to victory 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 to get Spain off to the perfect start.

But the day belonged to Ferrer, who whipped the home crowd into frenzy before sending them into rapturous celebration with his indomitable spirit and never say die attitude. The world No. 5 took off where his team mate left it – with an opportune break in the fourth game of the first set.

Del Potro made a double fault and an unlikely error off his forehand, before Ferrer unleashed a backhand pass for 0-40. The Argentine mistimed an attempted lob to hand the break to Ferrer. The 11^th ranked Argentine had a couple of opportunities in the seventh game, but Ferrer survived five deuce points to edge ahead. He then broke Del Potro a second time to close out the first set.

The giant Argentine finally came to life in the fifth game of the second set, when he broke Ferrer to love after the Spaniard’s forehand sailed long to bring the Andalucian fans a rare moment of cheer on an otherwise damp evening. Ferrer though restored parity in the eighth game, when Del Potro made two straight errors off his forehand to concede a break. A tie-break ensued and Ferrer made his first double fault of the match to hand his opponent four set points. Del Potro clinched the set on the next point to even the match and set the stage for an intriguing battle.

After an early exchange of breaks in the third set, the rubber was dead even at a set apiece and 3-3. But the 6’6’’ Argentine stepped on the gas in the eighth game when he unleashed a monstrous forehand winner to earn break point, before nailing the break with yet another neatly placed forehand winner. The Argentine won his fifth straight game, to clinch the set from 1-3 and swing the momentum firmly in his favour.

Ferrer though is a dogged fighter and he cut out the errors in the fourth set, biding his time and moment like a cat on the prowl. Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, Del Potro was unnerved by the weight of the occasion as he dumped a routine forehand in the net to offer the Spaniard two set points. While he saved the first with an ace, the next moment will live on to haunt the Argentine for a while – gripped by nerves Del Potro served a double fault to send the match into a decisive fifth set.

Ferrer seized the opportunity to race away to a 5-1 lead in the final set. With the match all but over, Del Potro showed his last signs of life when he attacked Ferrer from the net to prevent the Spaniard from serving out for the match. At 5-3, on his second attempt to serve for the rubber Ferrer was far more composed. He drew his opponent to the net with a wily drop shot before finishing him off with a sweetly time backhand pass. On his first match point, Ferrer sent a forehand down the line winner before letting out a guttural scream that sent the purpose built arena into a chorus of celebrations.

With Argentina needing to win the doubles to stay in the tie, there will be immense pressure on David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank on Saturday when they take on Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. The last time any nation came back from 0-2 to win the finals was in 1939 when the American team pulled off the amazing feat.

Scores

Rafael Nadal (ESP) d. Juan Monaco (ARG) 61 61 62

David Ferrer (ESP) d. Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) 62 67(2) 36 64 63