Ferrer sinks Berdych to level Davis Cup final at 2-2

PRAGUE (AP) -- David Ferrer kept alive Spain's hopes of winning a fourth Davis Cup title in five years by beating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in the

David Ferrer improved his career record to 6-3 against Tomas Berdych :: Greg Brunskill/Getty Images

PRAGUE (AP) -- David Ferrer kept alive Spain's hopes of winning a fourth Davis Cup title in five years by beating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in the first reverse singles match Sunday to even the final at 2-2.

The fifth-ranked Ferrer won 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to improve his career record against Berdych to 6-3. That means the best-of-five series will be decided in the final match between Radek Stepanek and Nicolas Almagro.

Ferrer, who is wrapping up the best season of his career having won a tour-best seven tournament titles, converted his first match point when Berdych's forehand hit the net, bringing cheers from the boisterous section of Spanish fans at the O2 Arena.

"I'm very happy with my game," Ferrer said. "I played very focused, very aggressive. I started really good. Maybe the key was I began really good."

The Spaniard never seemed in trouble despite playing on a fast indoor hard court at the O2 Arena that was supposed to benefit his big-hitting opponent.

Ferrer broke Berdych early in each set to take control, cruising to victory in 2 hours, 25 minutes.

"I was always few steps behind him," said Berdych who suffered the first loss in the Davis Cup this year. "He was just playing too good today."

Berdych was broken in the third game of the third set before tying it at 4-4. But Ferrer proved too good to allow any drama, breaking again for a 6-5 lead and serving out the match at love.

It was Ferrer's 76th win of the year. He is unbeaten in the Davis Cup since 2010,

"It was the best season of my career," he said.

The Czechs are seeking to complete a rare double just two weeks after the women secured the Fed Cup title in the same arena. No country has won both competitions in the same year since the United States in 1990.

Spain, which is without the injured Rafael Nadal, is looking for its sixth title overall. The Czechs' only victory came in 1980 as Czechoslovakia.

Berdych spent more than seven hours on the court in the previous two days to win both his opening singles and the doubles, and it looked as if fatigue may have finally set in at the end of the long season.

"I was feeling really well," Berdych said. "That was definitely not an issue."