Spain wins doubles to edge towards Davis Cup title.

The best tennis country never to have won the silver, double-decked trophy took a 2-1 lead Saturday over defending and 27-time champion Australia as Alex Corretja and Joan Balcells manhandled Sandon Stolle and Mark Woodforde 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Like the deafening sellout crowd of 14,000 at Palau Sant Jordi, history is on Spain's side in the best-of-five-matches competition. In the last 22 Davis Cup finals, the team that won the doubles has claimed the 101-year-old cup. The last time it didn't happen was 1977 when Italy won the doubles but lost the tie to Australia. On Friday, Lleyton Hewitt defeated Albert Costa 3-6, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a 4-hour, 10-minute marathon before Juan Carlos Ferrero leveled the competition by leading Pat Rafter 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2) 6-2, 3-1 when the Australian retired with cramps in his forearm, thigh and hip. He was expected to be ready for Sunday's reverse singles. Spain always had the upperhand against the defending and 27-time champions in the doubles. Balcells, the least known member of the Spanish team who teamed with Corretja for a bronze medal in doubles at the Sydney Olympics, won his first tournament on the ATP Tour only this year in Bucharest. He isn't even listed in its media guide and plays mostly second-level events.