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Spanish Davis Cup squad revels in underdog status
Barcelona, Nov 18: Spain`s Davis Cup coach Juan Avendano is glad his team is the underdog in next week`s final against Australia.
Barcelona, Nov 18: Spain's Davis Cup coach Juan Avendano is glad his team is the underdog in next week's final against Australia.
Alex Corretja and Juan Carlos Ferrero were on the team that won the Davis Cup against Australia in 2000 in Barcelona, but Spain does not go into the tie from Nov. 28-30 favored to repeat.
"Since it's on grass, and in Melbourne, it's clear that they are the favorites," Avendano said yesterday in announcing his team's final preparations. "But that means all the pressure to win is on them.
"Up until now, we've gone into all our matches as the favorites, and I think not going into the finals that way should take some pressure off us and let us play our game."
The two top-ranked players on the team, Ferrero and Carlos Moya, both were beaten at last week's Masters Cup, with Ferrero losing all three of his matches. But Avendano said he does not expect their poor performances to have any affect on the Davis Cup tie.
"They just have to forget the Masters, and prepare well for Melbourne. Of course we would have liked to see them play better in the Masters, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with Australia.
"We'll be facing a very different situation. Carlos Moya, in particular, has a great motivation because it's a good chance to win his first Davis Cup. And, we expect Ferrero to be at the top of his game."
Bureau Report
Alex Corretja and Juan Carlos Ferrero were on the team that won the Davis Cup against Australia in 2000 in Barcelona, but Spain does not go into the tie from Nov. 28-30 favored to repeat.
"Since it's on grass, and in Melbourne, it's clear that they are the favorites," Avendano said yesterday in announcing his team's final preparations. "But that means all the pressure to win is on them.
"Up until now, we've gone into all our matches as the favorites, and I think not going into the finals that way should take some pressure off us and let us play our game."
The two top-ranked players on the team, Ferrero and Carlos Moya, both were beaten at last week's Masters Cup, with Ferrero losing all three of his matches. But Avendano said he does not expect their poor performances to have any affect on the Davis Cup tie.
"They just have to forget the Masters, and prepare well for Melbourne. Of course we would have liked to see them play better in the Masters, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with Australia.
"We'll be facing a very different situation. Carlos Moya, in particular, has a great motivation because it's a good chance to win his first Davis Cup. And, we expect Ferrero to be at the top of his game."
Bureau Report