Sep 20, 2009, 14:16 GMT
Murcia, Spain - Spain finished off a 4-1 defeat of Israel Sunday with the visiting Middle East tennis minnow nation winning the concluding rubber as emphasis shifted to the battle to determine which city will host December's Davis Cup final with the Czech Republic.
David Ferrer beat Andy Ram 6-3, 6-1 in a meaningless reverse singles while Harel Levy scored a face-saving point for the Israelis as he defeated Feliciano Lopez 7-5, 6-2.
The December 4-6 final is likely to be played in either Madrid, Barcelona or Malaga, as three-time champion Spain competes in its fifth final in the past 10 years.
'To play the final at home is incredible, to be in the final again is unbelievable,' said Lopez of the nation which lifted the honours in 2000, 2004 and 2008 over Australia, the US and Argentina respectively.
'We have 17 straight wins in Spain, but we must take it very seriously.'
The weekend was completed as injured Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco both cheered their teammates on from the stands.
Nadal, healing an abdominal muscle strain, is set to play from September 28 on the ATP in Bangkok - but is also planning a brief holiday at the Thai resort of Krabi with friends. He is due in the Asian nation at mid-week.
Like Spain, the Czechs wrapped up their tie over Croatia in Porec Saturday. leaving the Sunday matches as mere exhibitions.
Jan Hajek scored another Czech victory in a battle of substitutes over Roko Karanusic 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 while Lovro Zovko put the hosts on the scoreboard over doubles player Lukas Dlouhy 6-3, 6-4. Spanish captain Albert Costa said that the internal battle to host the final will be intense. 'I see everyone very involved.
'But it's the same as always, the decision will be difficult, but we must take it.'
Choice of surface is almost certain to be clay, where Spain have won its last 18 ties on the surface.
The host nation has reached back-to-back Davis Cup finals for the first time since 2003-2004, with Spain are the first defending champion in three editions to reach the final since Russia in 2007.
The last nation to successfully defend the Davis Cup title was Sweden in 1998.
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