BARCELONA. Dec I 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero made tennis history' on Sunday when he ousted Llcyton

Hewitt in four sets to hand Spain their first ever Davis Cup victory. reports AFP.

Ferrero's 6-2. 7-6. 4-6. 6-4 victory in 3hr 36min secured the Spanish an unbeatable 3-1 lead and sparked scenes of total bedlam in Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi.

It was hard on Hewitt, who had fought every- inch of the way and who had also won his opening tie in five sets against Albert Costa on Friday

But Ferrero, who failed to serve out for the match before winning with a brilliant double fisted backhand. finally toughed it out lo win their battle of nerves anil take the tie --and Ilie Cup on his fourth match point.

Spain's maiden victory in the competition was witnessed by another Juan Carlos -- King Juan Carlos, who looked on enraptured from the VIP box and then warmly shook hands with Ferrero, who was engulfed at the end by his teammates and sprayed with champagne.

Ferrero said afterwards: "It means a lot. ft was great to win the first Davis Cup title for Spain but I want to make clear it's a victory of all the team, not only mine.

After riding the shockwave of leaving Corretja out of (he opening day s singles. Duarte saw (hat gamble pay off handsomely.

Hewitt had won the pair's only previous encounter on hardcouri at Scottsdale earlier Illis year, but that was not in such a high-pressure situation and with 90 percent of the crowd rabidly against him

Ferrero, looking to take his Davis Cup record to 5-0 having already seen off a cramping Pat Rafter here last Friday, began in style with a break but Hewitt. 9-3 in previous Davis Cup play, broke back to love and then held.

Both men's nerves were showing but Hewitt in particular was looking below par and he dropped serve again in the fifth and seventh games as Ferrero wrapped up the opening set in 35inln.

Things became a lot harder for Ferrero in tiie second set. where Hewitt showed huge tenacity to force a tiebreak.

It seemed the 19-year-old Adelaider's nerves frayed as he dropped serve to 1-2 but he broke back in the eighth game for 4-4 as the Spaniard netted a forehand.

Hewitt then staved off a break point in the 1 I th game to force a tiebeak.

The Aussie seemed to move up a gear as hr streaked to a 4-0 lead but 20-year-old Ferrero fought tigerishly to ensure the pendulum swung back his way.

Hewitt lilt long to see his lead cut to 4-1 and then hit a smash out as Ferrero drew level on the Aussie serve. . ;

Hewitt suffered an attack of nerves as he fatally dropped serve after first going for and missing an ace. He then netted

to concede a 76rnin set and out c ame a sea of Spanish flags.

In the third sei Hewitt, often ready to storm the net impressively. waited for his moment before breakbig for a 4-3 lead as Ferrero sent an over-ambitious lob long and then netted an attempted dropshot.

Suddenly the Aussie was summoning up hidden reserves of energy and hitting winners at will as Ferrero began to feel the mounting pressure having moved to the brink of a win awaited by an entire nation for

D< spur ii- ■ ding in aimein to an injured huger on his nglxt hand the Aussfr .inxious to play the fullest part in a second straight Australian win after last year lositig his singles rubbers against France, had managed the crucial break and Ferrero then bludgeoned a return long to concede the set.

Hewitt showed nerves of steel as he staved off triple break point tn the fourth game of the fourth set with an ace and a net cord which barely-plopped over.

But Ferrero held for 3-2 and broke for 5-3.

It looked all over -- but it wasn't as Hewitt, provoking the crowd with several disputed Une calls, broke back.

Ferrero netted on his first two match pomts and then sank to his knees as he fired wide on his third

But the fc/urth one was the one which counted as a blazing backhand to the back court landed good to finish the con-