Davis Cup Update: Spain v France – Spain leads 5-2

Written by: Staff on 15th September 2011

Davis Cup Update: Spain v France - Spain leads 5-2

Spanish tennis players Feliciano Lopez (L-R), Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, Rafael Nadal and Spanish captain Albert Costa pose with France's Guy Forget (captain), Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet and Michael Llodra during the draw for the Davis Cup semifinal , on 15 September 2011, in Cordoba, southern Spain. Spanish players will play against French team this weekend EPA/Rafa Alcaide |

SPAIN v FRANCE

Head-to-head: Spain lead 5-2

France ended an 87-year wait to defeat Spain for just the 2nd time in history in last year’s quarterfinals. Not only that, but Guy Forget’s team also whitewashed their opponents 5-0 – it was only the 2nd time that the defending champion had been defeated 5-0 since the inception of the World Group in 1981.

SPAIN	v	FRANCE

1	Current DC Nations Ranking	4
Champion (4 times)	Best Result	Champion 9 times
1921	First Year Played	1904
76	Years Played (inc 2010)	92
27	Years in World Group (inc 2010)	29
187	Ties Played	236
117-70	Ties Win-Loss	154-82
0	Comebacks from 0-2 down	3

SPAIN are making their 15th consecutive World Group appearance.

Spain have reached the semifinals for the 3rd time in the last 4 years after defeating Belgium 4-1 in the 1st round in Charleroi and USA 3-1 in the quarterfinals in Austin, Texas.

Last year, Spain won their 19th consecutive tie at home when they defeated Switzerland 4-1 in the 1st round, setting a new World Group record for the longest run of wins by a nation at home. Spain’s last home loss was in 1999 (l. Brazil), which was also the last time they lost a Davis Cup tie on clay. They have won 21 straight ties on the surface since that defeat.

Spain have been crowned Davis Cup champion 4 times since 2000, having never previously won the title. The Spanish lifted the trophy in 2000 (d. Australia 3-1 on indoor clay), 2004 (d. USA 3-2 on indoor clay), 2008 (d. Argentina 3-1 on indoor hard) and 2009 (d. Czech Republic 5-0 on indoor clay).

If Spain win this weekend, they will have an away tie against Serbia or a home tie against Argentina in the final.

Spain are currently No. 1 in the Davis Cup Nations Ranking and are one of 5 nations to rank No. 1 since the rankings were introduced in 2001 (alongside Australia, Croatia, France and Russia). Spain were ranked No. 1 between September 2004 and September 2005, and have also held the top spot since July 2009.

FRANCE are bidding to reach back-to-back finals for the first time since 2002. Last year, the French lost 3-2 to Serbia in the Davis Cup Final in Belgrade. The French reached the final without losing a live rubber against Germany (4-1 in Toulon), Spain (5-0 in Clermont-Ferrand) and Argentina (5-0 in Lyon).

France have advanced to the semifinals for the 2nd consecutive year after defeating Austria 3-2 in the 1st round in Vienna and Germany 4-1 in the quarterfinals in Stuttgart. Jeremy Chardy was the hero of the 1st round tie, which was played in an airport hangar, winning both of his singles rubbers including a decisive 5th rubber against Martin Fischer.

This is France’s 4th consecutive away tie. They have won 3 of their last 4 away ties in the competition.

France have been crowned Davis Cup champion 9 times and are joint-third (with Great Britain) on the list of all-time champions, behind USA and Australia. They have also reached the final a further 6 times. Their last title win came in 2001 when they defeated Australia 3-2 on grass in Melbourne.

Only France and USA have won a Davis Cup Final on all four surfaces (grass, clay, hard and carpet).

France are one of 5 nations to have held the No. 1 ranking, alongside Australia, Croatia, Russia and Spain. France held the top spot between February 2002 and September 2003 and again from April 2004 to July 2004. The Davis Cup Nations Ranking was introduced in 2001 and is updated after each round.

France have only twice been absent from the World Group since its inception in 1981. Their 29 years in the World Group is second only to Czech Republic, Sweden and USA, who have competed in the World Group for 30 of the 31 years.