Barcelona: Spain retained the Davis Cup by winning the doubles match on Saturday to take an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the Czech Republic in the final.
Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco beat Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7), 7-5, 6-2 in the deciding match on clay at Palau Sant Jordi.
Spain, which won its fourth title since 2000, is the first country since Sweden in 1998 to defend the trophy.
Spain, which took advantage of Berdych's shaky serve for three of its four breaks. But it was Stepanek's shot into the net on match point that handed Spain the title at the same venue where it took its first title nine years ago.
Lopez threw his wristband to Crown Prince Felipe after the team bench emptied to chants of "Campeones!"--or Champions!
"We didn't expect to win it this quickly," said Albert Costa, the fourth captain to win the title in his maiden campaign. "The key to this team has been its unity."
Verdasco also overcame early jitters to help clinch the title for the second straight year by scoring two key breaks, including in the 11th game of the second set. The ninth-ranked player won the deciding singles match last year.
"To win the Davis Cup is always a special feeling at home, and even more than last year in Argentina," said Lopez, who won a second title along with his three teammates. "Last year was very difficult, more than here.
"The key was we played a great game. We never doubted for one minute."
Spain is now the sixth most successful team in the competition's 108-year history after the United States (32 titles), Australia (28), France and Britain (9) and Sweden (7).
"I don't think this team has any limits," Costa said, before warning his team about complacency. "The only worry we can have is maybe motivation."
Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil opted for Berdych and Stepanek--who were 5-0 in Davis Cup doubles coming into the match--instead of original picks Lukas Dlouhy and Jan Hajek despite both players losing their singles matches on Friday.
Berdych lost to Rafael Nadal while Stepanek blew a two-set advantage in a grueling 4-hour defeat to David Ferrer.
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"Yesterday was a lot worse, I suffered a lot worse," Nadal said. "Today, we had the calm of being 2-0 up."
Spain's mastery on clay continued as it stretched its unbeaten run on the red surface to 20 ties. The Spaniards are unbeaten at home since 1999--a run of 18 opponents. It is only the fourth team to defend its title since the format changed in 1972.
"They deserved to win this tie," Berdych said. "Definitely, we were second in almost all the things that happened in the court today."
The first set was decided after a lengthy exchange between Verdasco and Berdych, who struggled with their serves and were each broken once in the first set.
The Czechs saved three set points before setting up one for themselves, which Lopez saved with a net volley.
"That was the key point," Berdych said.
But on the deciding point, Stepanek stepped up to backhand Lopez's volley long.
Both teams held serve until the 11th game of second set when Spain rallied from 40-0 down on Berdych's serve to score the only break of the frame. Lopez would clinch the two-set lead on the second set point by ripping an ace down the middle.
Lopez's sent a one-handed backhand down the near line for a break in the opening game of the final frame, and Verdasco then sent a crosscourt forehand out of Berdych's reach for another break and a 4-1 lead.
The Czechs played its third final and first since Ivan Lendl guided Czechoslovakia to victory in 1980. Only one team had ever recovered from an 0-2 deficit before, with Australia rallying against the United States 70 years ago.
"We are very happy with this season because we are coming after (so many) years to the final," Navratil said. "Still, our opponent Spain was very strong, very tough. I have to just congratulate Spanish team for the victory."
Reverse singles are scheduled for Sunday, with Nadal playing Stepanek and Ferrer facing Berdych.
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