- News>
- Tennis
Despite odds, Spain hopes against hope for upset in Davis Cup final
Melbourne, Nov 28: Despite the gloomy predictions of their captain, the Spanish players are still hopeful of pulling of an upset.
Melbourne, Nov 28: Despite the gloomy predictions of their captain, the Spanish players are still hopeful of pulling of an upset.
Spain's two singles players, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya, are both ranked above their Australian opponents Mark Philippoussis and Lleyton Hewitt and they have been encouraged that the grass court has been playing slower than expected in the first few days of practice. Arrese said that Moya was a good player on grass but had not played on the surface for a while. Moya said that it would be a difficult week but the players were all professionals who could cope. Hewitt said that both he and Philippousis wanted to do their best to give Australia a good opening day and the order of their play did not matter too much. Spanish veteran Alex Corretja, who will team up with Davis Cup rookie Feliciano Lopez in the doubles, is also growing in confidence.
Corretja said his main role would be to help calm the nerves of 22-year-old Lopez, the left-handed serve-volleyer who was selected ahead of his more accomplished countryman Albert Costa for Saturday's doubles rubber with the experienced pair Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs.
Hewitt, who has been practicing on the grass courts in Melbourne for the best part of two weeks said the court, which was used in 2001, had improved since then.
Davis Cup draw: Friday (11:00 local time start) Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) v Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) Mark Philippoussis (AUS) v Carlos Moya (ESP)
Saturday (14:00 local time start) Wayne Arthurs/Todd Woodbridge (AUS) v Alez Corretja/Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
Sunday (11:00 local time start) Mark Philippoussis (AUS) v Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) v Carlos Moya (ESP)
Bureau Report
Spain's two singles players, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya, are both ranked above their Australian opponents Mark Philippoussis and Lleyton Hewitt and they have been encouraged that the grass court has been playing slower than expected in the first few days of practice. Arrese said that Moya was a good player on grass but had not played on the surface for a while. Moya said that it would be a difficult week but the players were all professionals who could cope. Hewitt said that both he and Philippousis wanted to do their best to give Australia a good opening day and the order of their play did not matter too much. Spanish veteran Alex Corretja, who will team up with Davis Cup rookie Feliciano Lopez in the doubles, is also growing in confidence.
Corretja said his main role would be to help calm the nerves of 22-year-old Lopez, the left-handed serve-volleyer who was selected ahead of his more accomplished countryman Albert Costa for Saturday's doubles rubber with the experienced pair Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs.
Hewitt, who has been practicing on the grass courts in Melbourne for the best part of two weeks said the court, which was used in 2001, had improved since then.
Davis Cup draw: Friday (11:00 local time start) Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) v Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) Mark Philippoussis (AUS) v Carlos Moya (ESP)
Saturday (14:00 local time start) Wayne Arthurs/Todd Woodbridge (AUS) v Alez Corretja/Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
Sunday (11:00 local time start) Mark Philippoussis (AUS) v Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) v Carlos Moya (ESP)
Bureau Report