Spain Davis Cup team

Spain
Nickname La Armada Española
La Armada Invencible
(The Invincible Armada)
Captain Conchita Martínez
ITF ranking 6 (Decrease1)
Colors Red & Yellow
First year 1921
Years played 79
Years in
World Group		 30 (37–25)
Davis Cup titles 5 (2000, 2004, 2008, 2009,
2011)
Runners-up 4 (1965, 1967, 2003,
2012)
Most total wins Manuel Santana (92–28)
Most singles wins Manuel Santana (69–17)
Most doubles wins Manuel Santana (23–11)
Best doubles team José Luis Arilla /
Manuel Santana (15–7)
Most ties played Manuel Santana (46)
Most years played Sergio Casal
Manuel Orantes
Manuel Santana (14)

The Spain Davis Cup team represents Spain in the Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Real Federación Española de Tenis, presided over by José Luis Escañuela.

Spain has won the Davis Cup five times (2000, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011), and finished as runner-up four times (1965, 1967, 2003, 2012).

Spain competed in the World Group for 18 consecutive years, from 1997 to 2014, which makes it historically one of the most powerful countries in the tennis world.

Spain defeated Argentina in the 2011 final, held for the second time in Seville, by a score of 3–1 [1] to claim their fifth title, and the third in four years.

In 2014 Spain was relegated, dropping out of the World Group for the first time since 1996.

History

Spain competed in its first Davis Cup in 1921 but didn't reach the final round until 1965, when the team led by Jaime Bartroli lost to Australia. They reached the final again two years later but though they had great players such as Manuel Santana and Manuel Orantes, Spain lost against Roy Emerson and company again.

Spanish fans had to wait 33 years in 2000, to see their team play another Davis Cup final, but this time the Spanish team defeated the Australians in Barcelona with Juan Carlos Ferrero as national hero. But Lleyton Hewitt, who had been defeated by Ferrero three years before, had his revenge very soon, when Spain lost to Australia again in 2003.

The following year, Spain reached the final once again. It was played in Seville and for the first time ever, they didn't have to play against Australia. Their opponents were the United States, and thanks to great performances from Carlos Moyá and an 18-year-old Rafael Nadal, Spain managed to win their second Davis Cup.

Spain reached the final once again in 2008, and they won against Argentina. It was the first time that the Spanish team managed to win the final on foreign soil. Unexpectedly, the Spanish heroes were Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano López, winning one single each and the doubles partnering together. David Ferrer, then World Number 5, lost in straight sets to David Nalbandian in the only match he played in the final; and Nadal, World Number 1, was injured, and he wasn't able to play in Argentina.

After winning the Davis Cup for the third time, Emilio Sánchez stepped down as captain to allow compatriot Albert Costa take his place. Second-seeded Spain cruised to their seventh Davis Cup final after home victories against Serbia, Germany and Israel, even though Costa struggled to make a team as Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco missed two ties each. Spain played the Czech Republic, which previously managed to eliminate first-seeded Argentina. The final was held in home ground again, where they hadn't lost a tie since 1999. Spain swept the Czechs 5–0 behind great performances from David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal to claim their second consecutive title, and the fourth in ten years.

Davis Cup wins

Edition Rounds/Opponents Results
2000 1R:  Italy QF:  Russia SF:  United States F:  Australia 1R: 4–1 QF: 4–1 SF: 5–0 F: 3–1
2004 1R:  Czech Republic QF:  Netherlands SF:  France F:  United States 1R: 3–2 QF: 4–1 SF: 4–1 F: 3–2
2008 1R:  Peru QF:  Germany SF:  United States F:  Argentina 1R: 5–0 QF: 4–1 SF: 4–1 F: 3–1
2009 1R:  Serbia QF:  Germany SF:  Israel F:  Czech Republic 1R: 4–1 QF: 3–2 SF: 4–1 F: 5–0
2011 1R:  Belgium QF:  United States SF:  France F:  Argentina 1R: 4–1 QF: 3–1 SF: 4–1 F: 3–1

Results

Year Competition Date Location Opponent Score Result
2000 World Group, 1st Round 4–6 February Murcia, Spain Italy Italy 4–1 Won
World Group, Quarterfinals 7–9 April Málaga, Spain Russia Russia 4–1 Won
World Group, Semifinals 21–23 July Santander, Spain United States United States 5–0 Won
World Group, Final 8–10 December Barcelona, Spain Australia Australia 3–1 Winner
2004 World Group, 1st Round 6–8 February Brno, Czech Republic Czech Republic Czech Republic 2–3 Won
World Group, Quarterfinals 9–11 April Palma de Mallorca, Spain Netherlands Netherlands 4–1 Won
World Group, Semifinals 24–26 September Alicante, Spain France France 4–1 Won
World Group, Final 3–5 December Seville, Spain United States United States 3–2 Winner
2008 World Group, 1st Round 8–10 February Lima, Peru Peru Peru 0–5 Won
World Group, Quarterfinals 11–13 April Bremen, Germany Germany Germany 1–4 Won
World Group, Semifinals 19–21 September Madrid, Spain United States United States 4–1 Won
World Group, Final 21–23 November Mar del Plata, Argentina Argentina Argentina 1–3 Winner
2009 World Group, 1st Round 6–8 March Benidorm, Spain Serbia Serbia 4–1 Won
World Group, Quarterfinals 10–12 July Marbella, Spain Germany Germany 3–2 Won
World Group, Semifinals 18–20 September Murcia, Spain Israel Israel 4–1 Won
World Group, Final 4–6 December Barcelona, Spain Czech Republic Czech Republic 5–0 Winner
2011 World Group, 1st Round 4–6 March Charleroi, Belgium Belgium Belgium 1–4 Won
World Group, Quarterfinals 8–10 July Austin, United States United States United States 1–3 Won
World Group, Semifinals 16–18 September Córdoba, Spain France France 4–1 Won
World Group, Final 2–4 December Seville, Spain Argentina Argentina 3–1 Winner

Current team (2015)

All players

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tie Details: Spain defeated Argentina 3–1 in Spain" Davis Cup, 12/04/11, accessed 12/04/11

External links

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