Barcelona: Spain won its fourth Davis Cup title when Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez took the doubles to give the team an unassailable 3-0 lead over the Czech Republic.
Spain also becomes the first country since Sweden in 1998 to retain the Davis Cup, after triumphing last year in Argentina.
"It was an incredible moment to return as captain after winning here nine years ago," said Spanish captain Albert Costa, who helped Spain to its first ever Davis Cup title in 2000, beating Australia at the same Palau Sant Jordi Arena in Barcelona.
In Friday's opening singles, world number two Rafael Nadal, who had limped out of last week's ATP World Tour finals in London without a single win, cruised past Berdych 7-5, 6-0, 6-2.
After the win, the crowd, along with the Spanish players, chanted "David, David" in tribute to Ferrer's gutsy performance.
Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil fielded Stepanek and Berdych, ranked 12th and 20th in the world, for the crucial doubles match over his initial choice of Jan Hajek and Lukas Dlouhy, 102 and 465 respectively, in a desperate bid to snatch the cup from the defending champions.
Lopez and Verdasco broke the Czechs in the 11th game of the second set after being 0-40 down after Berdych missed consecutive volleys at the net.
Spain beat Serbia 4-1, Germany 3-2 and Israel 4-1 en route to the final.
Spain also becomes the first country since Sweden in 1998 to retain the Davis Cup, after triumphing last year in Argentina.
"It was an incredible moment to return as captain after winning here nine years ago," said Spanish captain Albert Costa, who helped Spain to its first ever Davis Cup title in 2000, beating Australia at the same Palau Sant Jordi Arena in Barcelona.
In Friday's opening singles, world number two Rafael Nadal, who had limped out of last week's ATP World Tour finals in London without a single win, cruised past Berdych 7-5, 6-0, 6-2.
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After the win, the crowd, along with the Spanish players, chanted "David, David" in tribute to Ferrer's gutsy performance.
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Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil fielded Stepanek and Berdych, ranked 12th and 20th in the world, for the crucial doubles match over his initial choice of Jan Hajek and Lukas Dlouhy, 102 and 465 respectively, in a desperate bid to snatch the cup from the defending champions.
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Lopez and Verdasco broke the Czechs in the 11th game of the second set after being 0-40 down after Berdych missed consecutive volleys at the net.
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Spain beat Serbia 4-1, Germany 3-2 and Israel 4-1 en route to the final.
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