World number one Rafael Nadal blitzed hapless Andy Roddick inside a Madrid bullring on Sunday to lead Spain into their sixth Davis Cup final as defending champions USA surrendered their hold on the title.
In the November 21-23 final, Spain, the champions in 2000 and 2004, will face Argentina, after they defeated Russia 3-2 in their semi-final.
Nadal, who has already picked up the Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic titles this year, cruised to a 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 victory over Roddick to hand Spain an unassailable 3-1 lead in the 22,000-capacity Las Ventas bullring.
‘Today I play an almost perfect match and it is very, very exciting,’ said Nadal who played in the 2004 final win against the USA.
He was just 18 at the time, virtually unknown, but still beat Roddick, then the world number two.
Sunday saw Roddick lose for the fourth time in six meetings to the swashbuckling Spaniard and he never looked like taking victory on a clay court made sluggish by morning rain.
‘I don't think you can draw up a tougher scenario than playing Nadal on clay in front of a crowd like this,’ said Roddick.
Feliciano Lopez then beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4) in the final dead rubber to hand Spain a 4-1 win.
In Buenos Aires, world number six Nikolay Davydenko pulled Russia level with Argentina at 2-2 when he defeated David Nalbandian 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-0.
Then teenager Juan Martin del Potro crushed Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 in the deciding singles rubber to earn a home tie against Spain.
Argentina, who have never won the Davis Cup, will enjoy home advantage in the final.
Russia had been 2-0 down after Friday's opening singles but cut the deficit on Saturday when Igor Kunitsyn and Dmitry Tursunov defeated David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas 6-2, 6-1, 6-7 (9/11), 3-6, 8-6 in the doubles.
In Sunday's opening singles rubber, world number six Nikolay Davydenko pulled Russia level at 2-2 when he defeated David Nalbandian 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-0.
