Ferrer Keeps Spain Alive with Win over Berdych

By Chris Oddo

(November 18, 2012) -- David Ferrer's magnificent year keeps getting better. The 30-year-old Spaniard notched his 76th win of the season with a 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Tomas Berdych at the O2 Arena in Prague on Sunday.

The victory vaults Spain into a 2-2 tie with the Czech Republic. Radek Stepanek and Nicolas Almagro will contest the deciding rubber.

"I was basically just many steps always behind David," Berdych said afterwards. "In all aspects he was far ahead of me. He was just too good today."

Ferrer hit 38 winners against 31 unforced errors on the day to move his career record against Berdych to 6-3.

"I'm very happy with my game, I played very consistent," said Ferrer.

Ferrer, who rested while Tomas Berdych played a four-set doubles match on Saturday, did not think too much about the fact that his opponent might have been tired after playing nine sets in the previous two days.

"For me, I don't want to think about him," he said.

Tired as he might have been, Berdych showed signs of life late in the match when he nearly rallied to take the third set. But after taking a brief 5-4 lead, Ferrer fought back by tossing in a love hold to even the set at 5-5.

From there the indefatigable Spaniard broke Berdych's serve for the fifth time on the day, holding to love in the final game to bring the Spanish contingent in Prague to their feet.

"Now I will stop," said Ferrer. "I am in holidays at this moment... I will [give] support to Nico [Almagro] because it's going to be a really important match for both teams."

Stepanek holds a 2-1 career edge against Almagro, but the Spaniard defeated the 34-year-old at their last meeting at the U.S. Open in four sets.

(Photo Credit: AP Photo)