2009 Davis Cup Final Preview: Spain versus the Czech Republic
Today, Rafael Nadal returns to his favorite red clay courts as he leads the Spanish Davis Cup team against the Czech Republic in the 2009 Davis Cup Final in Barcelona at the site of Spain’s first Davis Cup title in 2000. Current Spanish Davis Cup captain, Albert Costa, played on that team along with former French Open Champion, Juan Carlos Ferrero, who is
a reserve on the Spanish team for this year’s Final. Spain is attempting to become the first country in more than a decade to win consecutive Davis Cup titles. Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez will join Nadal against the Czech team of Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek, Jan Hajek and doubles specialist, Lukas Dlouhy. The Czechs will be playing for their second title, but first as an independent nation, having won in 1980 as Czechoslovakia.
Nadal was a part of the Spanish Davis Cup team which won the title in 2004 over the United States in the Final, but he was injured last year when Spain captured the title. Nadal played for Spain earlier this year when they beat Serbia, but he was injured for the quarterfinal and semifinal matches. Nadal is 12-1 in Davis Cup singles play and 10-0 on clay. David Ferrer, Spain’s second singles player is 9-3 in Davis Cup matches. Fernando Verdasco, who is also on the team, is 11-7 in Davis Cup play and won two matches against Germany in the quarters. Feliciano Lopez, who has played doubles for Spain in the last nine straight Davis Cup ties, will again anchor the Spanish doubles team for the middle rubber partnering Verdasco.
On the Czech side, Radek Stepanek is 7-6 in Davis Cup singles action and 7-1 in doubles. Teammate, Tomas Berdych, is 13-7 in Davis Cup singles play and undefeated in 8 doubles matches. Jan Hajek who has only played one dead singles rubber in Davis Cup is scheduled to team in doubles with Lukas Dlouhy, who won the 2009 French Open and U.S. Open doubles titles. However, there is a good chance that Berdych and Stepanek, who are 5-0 in doubles, will replace them in the doubles rubber.
Spain leads the head-to-head series against the Czech Republic, 3-2 and they last played in 2004. Clearly, the Spaniards at home on red clay in front of 16,000 fans will be the favorites in the Davis Cup Final. Spain has won 17 straight Davis Cup ties at home and 19 straight on clay. Nonetheless, the Czechs have a chance. Although Nadal is 10-0 in singles on clay, Berdych has beaten Nadal three times on hard courts. David Ferrer has won three of six previous meetings against Stepanek, but they split two matches on clay. The tenor of the Davis Cup Final will be set by how well Nadal plays in the first rubber against Berdych. If Rafa wins, then Spain will clinch the title. If Nadal loses, then the Tie could get very interesting… tune in!
Nadal was a part of the Spanish Davis Cup team which won the title in 2004 over the United States in the Final, but he was injured last year when Spain captured the title. Nadal played for Spain earlier this year when they beat Serbia, but he was injured for the quarterfinal and semifinal matches. Nadal is 12-1 in Davis Cup singles play and 10-0 on clay. David Ferrer, Spain’s second singles player is 9-3 in Davis Cup matches. Fernando Verdasco, who is also on the team, is 11-7 in Davis Cup play and won two matches against Germany in the quarters. Feliciano Lopez, who has played doubles for Spain in the last nine straight Davis Cup ties, will again anchor the Spanish doubles team for the middle rubber partnering Verdasco.
On the Czech side, Radek Stepanek is 7-6 in Davis Cup singles action and 7-1 in doubles. Teammate, Tomas Berdych, is 13-7 in Davis Cup singles play and undefeated in 8 doubles matches. Jan Hajek who has only played one dead singles rubber in Davis Cup is scheduled to team in doubles with Lukas Dlouhy, who won the 2009 French Open and U.S. Open doubles titles. However, there is a good chance that Berdych and Stepanek, who are 5-0 in doubles, will replace them in the doubles rubber.
Spain leads the head-to-head series against the Czech Republic, 3-2 and they last played in 2004. Clearly, the Spaniards at home on red clay in front of 16,000 fans will be the favorites in the Davis Cup Final. Spain has won 17 straight Davis Cup ties at home and 19 straight on clay. Nonetheless, the Czechs have a chance. Although Nadal is 10-0 in singles on clay, Berdych has beaten Nadal three times on hard courts. David Ferrer has won three of six previous meetings against Stepanek, but they split two matches on clay. The tenor of the Davis Cup Final will be set by how well Nadal plays in the first rubber against Berdych. If Rafa wins, then Spain will clinch the title. If Nadal loses, then the Tie could get very interesting… tune in!
|| Comments (0)
