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Ferrero win seals top flight survival for Spain
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-26 09:15

TORRE DEL GRECO, Italy, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Italy's Daniele Bracciali 6-3 6-0 6-3 on Sunday to clinch a 3-2 Davis Cup win for his country and secure their place in the elite 16-nation World Group next year.

Spain went into the final two singles matches trailing 2-1 after a surprise defeat in Saturday's doubles but, after world number two Rafael Nadal beat a battling Andreas Seppi, Ferrero sealed the comeback to leave Italy facing a sixth season outside the top flight.

Champions last year, Spain were forced into the play-offs after their first round defeat to Slovakia -- who on Sunday reached the 2005 final -- and Jordi Arrese's team were facing the prospect of relegation after two days of spirited play from the Italians lapped up by capacity crowds at the new stadium at the foot of Mount Vesuvius.

Nadal's victory changed the mood, however, with the 19-year-old bringing his team level and setting up Ferrero for what was, in the end, a straightforward win.

BATTLED HARD

Nadal, who along with Feliciano Lopez lost in the doubles to leave the Spaniards trailing in the tie overnight, met with little resistance from Seppi in the first two sets on the clay court at the foot of Mount Vesuvius.
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