Davis cup final in Argentina

MADRID, Spain: Rafael Nadal isn’t overly worried about having to play the Davis Cup final against Argentina on a fast indoor surface rather than clay.

Nadal swept Andy Roddick in straight sets on clay Sunday as Spain beat the reigning champion United States 4-1 to reach its sixth final and third in eight years.

Argentina, which defeated Russia 3-2 in Buenos Aires in the other semifinal, plans to host the Nov. 21-23 final on a quick surface at the indoor Orfeo arena in Cordoba to take away the clay-court edge of Nadal and his teammates.

“It’s not just the surface but the team (you’re playing) that matters,” Nadal said.

Argentina knows the faster surface may be the only way to beat four-time French Open champion Nadal, who has lost only twice in his last 117 clay matches

“They’ll choose whatever works best for them. If they pick an indoor (stadium) we’ll go looking to be as competitive as possible,” Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario said. “If they put us on grass we have the Wimbledon champion.”

Argentina, whose team features David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro, reached its third final on Sunday in a series where the Russians felt just what a difference Argentina’s boisterous and intimidating support can make.

“The Argentine public is a factor if the games are close,” Sanchez Vicario said. “But if there is any evident superiority in a match then the public will have little influence. It always depends on what happens on the court.”

And Nadal may be worn out after the longest season of his career.

Nadal and, most likely, David Ferrer will have little time to recover from jet-lag as they travel directly to Argentina from the Masters Cup at Shanghai, which runs Nov. 11-16.

Roddick said Davis Cup organizers were at fault.

“They know that we love this competition so they take advantage of it and pretty much put us through the ringer with the schedule not really caring if we get much rest or not,” Roddick said. “But if anybody can handle it, it’s probably (Nadal).”

Roddick knows just how strong Nadal can be on the clay after losing 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 on Sunday — the first time the U.S. player has ever been blanked in a set over 22 Davis Cup ties.

“With Rafa having the year he’s had you probably have to like Spain’s chances at this point, but Argentina has been a strong team over the years,” said the eighth-ranked American, who helped lead the U.S. to the title last year.

Sanchez Vicario knows the task will not be easy.

“In the end, the best players are there and playing away will be tough,” he said. “But with this team, we can do it.”
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SOURCE:
“Nadal, Spain ready for Argentina”
Sports
International Herald Tribune
September 22, 2008
http://www.iht.com
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/22/sports/TEN-Davis-Cup-Spain.php