PRAGUE, Nov 17: The Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych brought the hosts level at 1-1 with holders Spain in the Davis Cup final with a battling four-hour five-set victory over Nicolas Almagro on Friday.

Spain, without the injured Rafa Nadal, are bidding for a fourth Davis Cup crown in five years, while the Czechs are aiming to become the first country in 22 years to win men’s and women’s team titles in the same season.

The top Czech player, ranked sixth in the world, used his booming serve to good effect and drew inspiration from the vocal home support to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3.

“We are one-all, we have opened the chance for Sunday, no matter what happens tomorrow. That’s a good step for us,” Berdych said after the epic rubber.

“I had more faith in myself today, that I’ll make it, and that helped me get through the game,” he added.

Earlier, Spain’s top player David Ferrer beat Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in an equally hard-fought opening match.

Ferrer, who hasn’t lost in the competition since 2010, put the visitors 1-0 ahead after closing out his second match point.

“In the important moments, I played better than Radek,” he said. “I won in three sets. That’s perfect. I’m very happy to win my game.”

In Sunday’s reverse singles, Berdych is scheduled to face Ferrer and Stepanek will play Almagro.

Spain are looking to add a fourth crown to their three Davis Cup trophies from the last four years, after having won the cup in 2000 and 2004.

Czechoslovakia, which split peacefully into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, won the Davis Cup in 1980.

But if the Czechs win the 100th edition of the Davis Cup finals, they will clinch a rare team double, last achieved by the United States in 1990, after their women’s team lifted the Fed Cup here two weeks ago.—Agencies