Argentina seeks Davis Cup revenge
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China Daily, December 2, 2011
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Spain's Rafael Nadal returns a ball during a training session at La Cartuja's Olympic Stadium in Sevilla on Wednesday ahead of the Davis Cup final against Argentina. Cristina Quicler / Agence France-Presse. |
Last time, Spain scored a major upset, even without Nadal - can South American team return favor?
The last time Argentina met Spain in the Davis Cup, in the 2008 final in Mar del Plata, the South Americans were firm favorites to claim their first title, but their challenge was wrecked by infighting within the team.
The Spanish, without talisman Rafa Nadal, pulled off a dramatic victory on the indoor hard court for a third triumph in nine years, Fernando Verdasco battling from two sets to one down to beat Jose Acasuso and secure an unassailable 3-1 lead.
With clay king Nadal leading the charge and the 2011 final to be played on the red dust indoors in Seville, the boot is very much on the other foot and anything other than a Spanish victory - giving it a third title in four years and fifth overall - would be a major surprise.
Argentina, which has Juan Monaco, Juan Ignacio Chela and Eduardo Schwank alongside Juan Martin Del Potro and David Nalbandian on the squad for the Dec 2-4 tie, says the personality clashes that ruined its 2008 bid are firmly behind it.
"That's in the past, completely in the past," said Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion and Argentina's top-ranked player at World No 11.
"After that (2008) final, we grew up, I've improved my game a lot and now we have another chance.
"Here it's different players, different surface, different stadium and this time Spain is the favorite.
"It's going to be different than Mar del Plata, if we are in good shape and remain focused."
Verdasco said he knew the Argentines was hurt by the defeat three years ago.
"They were at home and favorites and it's clear they want to pay us back," he said. "But we are preparing as if we have never won it before."
Tall order
Argentina's players have been working hard on clay and are hoping the fact that neither Del Potro nor Nalbandian have played a competitive match since October will give them a freshness the Spanish may lack.
Nadal and Ferrer competed on a hard court at last week's World Tour Finals in London, with Ferrer reaching the last four, and have had less than a week to make the switch to their favored clay.
However, getting the better of either World No 2 Nadal or No 5 Ferrer will be a tall order for the visitors as neither player has lost a Davis Cup singles rubber on the surface.
Nadal boasts a 14-0 clay record and 18-1 overall, while Ferrer is 11-0 on clay and 16-4 on all surfaces. Spain has won its past 20 home Davis Cup ties and its last 22 on clay.
"I'm sure it's an open match in some ways but I think Spain are really the overwhelming favorite," world No 3 Roger Federer told the Davis Cup website (www.daviscup.com) this week.
"They are playing at home and they have an incredibly solid team.
"(Argentina) have their players and their team and anything is possible, but obviously it's normal to favor the Spaniards with Rafa on the team, back on clay."
If the singles are a daunting prospect, Argentina may feel Saturday's doubles rubber is its for the taking.
Spain's regular pairing of Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez crashed to a heavy defeat by France's Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semifinals.
Same pressure
"We've learned from our mistakes," Verdasco said. "In Cordoba (in the semifinals) things didn't work out as we wanted, but we've trained in Barcelona this week and prepared differently to in the past."
Nadal on Tuesday played down the pressure the host will be under this weekend.
"We're under the same pressure as they are, we have to win the Davis Cup," insisted Nadal, who has lost just one singles rubber in the competition since making his debut in 2004.
Spain has won the title four times in the past 10 years, while Argentina has never lifted the trophy, finishing runner-up three times.
"The 2008 final was painful for Argentina, so it's normal that this time they'll have a special motivation," said Verdasco.
Spanish captain Albert Costa said his side was determined "the Cup stays here," adding: "It's hard to say who has the greater percentage chance of winning between the teams. I don't like giving figures. If we do things well than we'll have a chance.
"One thing that's sure is that all the matches will be long and tough."
The draw for the three-day final was scheduled for Thursday, when team captains Albert Costa of Spain and Argentina's Tito Vazquez will name their lineups.
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