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Davis Cup Champions 2008: Spain

Davis Cup

by Notorious (U11164235) 18 November 2008

World Group - Official Team Nominations

Argentina (0)	Spain (2)	1-3
David Nalbandian (3)	David Ferrer (6)	6-3 6-2 6-3
Juan Martin Del Potro (2)	Feliciano Lopez (1)	6-4 6-7 6-7 3-6
Acasuso/Calleri	Verdasco/Lopez	7-5 5-7 6-7 3-6
Jose Acasuso	Fernando Verdasco	3-6 7-6 6-4 3-6 1-6
David Nalbandian (2)	Feliciano Lopez (0)	-

Numbers in brackets represent the H2H

Final PreviewFor the first time in history, Argentina will play a home tie on a surface other than Clay. This was originally made to cancel out the great advantage Nadal would have on the surface, but since Nadal unfortunatly pulled out of this final with injury, this might have little relevance. However Nalbandian has indoor hard courts as his favorite surface, and Del Potro prefers it over clay, so this might have been the best choice in any case.

Spain has made the very bad decision (I think), not to call up Juan Carlos Ferrero for this tie. He has a very decent H2H against Nalbandian, and I believe that he would pose the biggest threat to him, other than perhaps Ferrer. Ferrer has been in pretty poor shape, but was the one player that came the closest to beating Nalbandian during his Madrid - Paris double last year, being two points away from victory.

Del Potro is not quite in the same form that led him to four consecutive titles during the summer, but should be motivated enough for this tie.

Feliciano Lopez is the spanyard that is most comfortable on this fast surface. Should he be picked to play a tie, he might threaten Nalbandian and Del Potro, however I doubt that he will emerge victorious against either of them.

For Spain, how well Ferrer plays as well as the doubles tie will be crucial. Nalbandian was not picked for the doubles however, and the pairing of Acasuso and Calleri should be seen as underdogs against Verdasco/Lopez.

All in all I believe that even if Ferrer finds his late 2007 form, Argentina will have a big advantage here, and I can see them winning comfortably, 5-0 or 4-1.

Relevant LinksTournament Site: www.daviscup.com/

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comment by Bourne (U3020163)

posted Nov 25, 2008

Basketball is an American sport, so technically, it doesn't count.

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comment by deecoco (U11685945)

posted Nov 25, 2008

Technicaly their Silver medal at the Beijing Olympics doesn�t count... Oh I see...

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comment by Bourne (U3020163)

posted Nov 25, 2008

USofA are the only ones who take it seriously, so there should only be one medal

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comment by deecoco (U11685945)

posted Nov 25, 2008

You just HAVE to be joking.. turn on Teledeporte tv Channel on Spanish tv. every day and what do you see.. Basketball.

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comment by Bourne (U3020163)

posted Nov 25, 2008

"You just HAVE to be joking"

Haha

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comment by NapoleonEinstein (U2154887)

posted Nov 25, 2008

basketball is unusually huge in spain. Gasol is like their johnny wilkinson or something, not quite as big as the football stars but everyone knows who he is.

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comment by potrodelpicassofo (U13701296)

posted Nov 28, 2008

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comment by elche2002 (U4430610)

posted Nov 29, 2008

FOLKS DO SOME RESEARCH first. Spain won the Silver medal in basketball. Argentina did win the gold medal in mens futball. Basketball is a huge huge sport in the USA and also in Europe save for the UK. Many Spaniards and other Euro players are the only white players in USA team. Gasol is a god in Los Angeles in Spain and all over Europe. I think Spain is reconquering the world once again They are even buying some top banks in the USA. Just imagine if Franco had not ruined and slowed his nation with Fascism for such a long time Spain would have been at the top in so many things.

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comment by The Nameless One (U1984770)

posted Nov 29, 2008

elche the Spanish nationalistic fanboy strikes again. Nobody cares about any of these things on a tennis forum, muchacho.

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comment by Varicoseears (U13721069)

posted Nov 29, 2008

I have to say I agree with Elche. What a year for Spain! (small rebuke: Franco wasn't a fascist, just a disgraceful dictator who used FETydelasJONS for his own ends. Aupa Nadal!

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