Spain To Host Davis Cup Final Rematch

Written by: Staff on 19th September 2011

Spain To Host Davis Cup Final Rematch

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (6-0,6-2 and 6-4) at their individual match, of the Davis Cup semifinal Spain vs. France, at Los Califas bullring in Cordoba, southern Spain, 18 September 2011. EPA/RAFA ALCAIDE |

Spain and Argentina will meet again in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Final for the first time since their clash in 2008, which saw a crushed Argentina fall in front of home fans in a thrilling five-set rubber in Mar del Plata. With the South Americans this time travelling to Spain, the team, led by Juan Martin del Potro and David Nalbandian, will hope to lift their first Davis Cup trophy with defeat over the 2008-09 champions.

Spain are gunning for their fifth title in 12 years, having also been crowned Davis Cup champions in 2000 and 2004. They booked their place in the final with a 4-1 defeat of France in the weekend’s World Group semifinal in Cordoba, a payback win for their 5-0 loss to the French in last year’s quarterfinal. Argentina had a bittersweet semifinal victory after US Open champion Novak Djokovic could not shake off his back injury enough to defeat del Potro in the fourth rubber in Belgrade. The world No. 1 was forced to retire, handing Argentina their ticket to the season-ending event.

It had looked to be a straight 3-0 win for Spain after Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer scored outstanding straight-set wins over Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon respectively on day one. Spain’s dream team Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco stepped out for the doubles on Saturday, facing France’s Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. What ensued was a 61 62 60 rout of the Spaniards, which turned out to be the worst ever defeat for a Spanish Davis Cup doubles team in the competition’s history. The comeback was shortlived however, as Nadal was too strong for Tsonga in the first of Sunday’s reverse singles, winning 60 62 64.

In Belgrade, Nalbandian and del Potro had set the Argentines on a winning course by taking both Friday’s singles matches. Djokovic had withdrawn from the first day’s play due to the back injury, leaving Viktor Troicki to step up as the team’s No. 1. Although he lost his match, on Saturday the Serb teamed up with Grand Slam doubles champion Nenad Zimonjic to keep the tie alive for the hosts, defeating Juan Ignacio Chela and Juan Monaco 76 64 62.

With Serbia in a critical position in the tie, Djokovic stepped up for Sunday’s reverse singles against del Potro but admitted defeat after going down 76 3-0. The world No. 1 retired in tears, as were the fans inside the Belgrade Arena, leaving the 2010 champions unable to defend their title this time. Argentina, having already battled for the Davis Cup title in 1981, 2006 and 2008, now have another chance to lift the much-coveted trophy when the final takes place on 2-4 December.

(Courtesy of ITF)