THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MADRID, Spain -- Spain's winning Davis Cup team returned home on Tuesday looking worn out from a night of celebrations followed by a long flight from Argentina.
Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez, David Ferrer, Marcel Granollers and captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario arrived at Madrid's international airport at 5 a.m. local time. Due to the early hour, there was little fanfare to greet the team.
"I think in the next few days we'll finally realize what we have achieved," Ferrer told reporters.
The Davis Cup trophy wasn't on the flight but will arrive at the Spanish tennis federation's headquarters in Barcelona next week. The trophy's nationwide tour begins next year at tournaments in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia.
"It's a dream come true," said Verdasco, who clinched the winning point in the 3-1 triumph with a five-set victory Sunday over Jose Acasuso in Mar del Plata. "Since I started hitting my first shots with a racket, I dreamed of experiencing such a moment. I still can't believe it."
Spain went into the indoor hard court final against Argentina as an overwhelming underdog after top-ranked Rafael Nadal withdrew due to knee tendinitis.
"We were convinced we could win and, after Rafa's withdrawal, we carried less pressure with us so we could play even more relaxed despite the harassment of the Argentine fans," Verdasco said.
Spain's title defence begins against Serbia in March, although Sanchez Vicario won't be on the bench after stepping down following the win. He pushed for Lopez's coach, Albert Costa, to take over as captain.
"I think he's my natural successor. He's very close to this group of players who are integrated into the nucleus of the team and he's demonstrated his qualities as a coach by leading Feliciano, who has shown notable progression in the last while," Sanchez Vicario said after holding up his replica trophy for photographers.
Spain's third Davis Cup triumph capped an incredible year for Spanish tennis.
Nadal's fourth straight French Open trophy and first Wimbledon title led the way as Spanish players won 16 titles in 2008. Nadal, who also won Olympic gold, surpassed Roger Federer after a record 237 weeks to finish the season as No. 1.
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