Spain sweeps US in singles for 2-0 Davis Cup lead

Sam Querrey and John Isner lost their opening singles matches Friday, giving the defending champions a 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup semifinals.

David Ferrer put the hosts ahead in the best-of-five series with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 win over Querrey. Nicolas Almagro beat Isner 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to leave Spain one point from its fourth final in five years.

Almagro overcame 25 aces from Isner, who saved three match points before hitting a forehand long.

The U.S. must win the doubles match Saturday to stay in the series, with brothers Mike and Bob Bryan facing Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez. The Bryan twins are 4-0 when the U.S. has faced a 2-0 deficit, and 5-0 against Spain.

Reverse singles are Sunday. Spain is playing without injured Rafael Nadal, and the U.S. is without Andy Roddick, who retired after the U.S. Open.

The United States has only rallied back to win from a 0-2 deficit once in 38 series — in 1934 against Australia. Since the start of World Group play, Spain is 37-0 after winning both opening singles.

The winner plays either Argentina or the Czech Republic in the final in November.

Almagro and Ferrer are a combined 23-1 on clay. While Querrey wasted nine break opportunities in the fourth set of his match, Isner took advantage of his lone chance in the fourth to reach the deciding set.