Davis Cup Preview

Tomorrow Spain and the Czech Republic begin battle for the Davis Cup on the red clay in Barcelona, Spain.  On paper the Spanish team looks very strong, and should easily retain the Davis Cup for a 2nd straight year.  Everything seems to be in the Spaniards favor.  A home crowd,  higher ranked players, playing on clay with arguably the greatest clay court player in the history of tennis on your squad.  The matches are played on the court and not by computer rankings or public opinion.  The Czech team aren't necessarily pushovers, and there are question marks with the Spain squad.

Some things people are wondering are:  Is there something wrong with Rafael Nadal?  Nadal the #2 ranked player in the world was unimpressive in going 0-3 at the ATP World Championships last week.  Is he still bothered by injuries, or was he consciously holding back and saving something in the tank for this weeks Davis Cup final.  With how much money the players were getting for an individual victory ($120,000), you would think he would of gave his best effort or had better results.  So maybe once again Rafa is beginning to wear down at the end of the year.  Another question surrounding the Spanish team is the health of David Ferrer.  Ferrer had to drop out of his own tournament in Valencia, and also missed the masters series event in Paris with a bad hamstring.  So will there be rust to his game, and is he 100%.  Plus even at 100% Ferrer isn't any better than the Czech players, even on clay.  So the Cup staying in Spain isn't a foregone conclusion.  Look for it to come down to possibly the last match on Sunday.

Fridays Matches:

Rafael Nadal (ESP)  vs.  Tomas Berdych (CZE)

Tomas Berdych has no chance on clay, especially in a best of 5 format against Rafa Nadal.  No matter how injured or how much he is struggling this should be an easy win for Spain who will take a early 1-0 lead.

David Ferrer (ESP)  vs.  Radek Stepanek (CZE)

Like I mentioned before, how Ferrer will play, and if he is 100% healthy, and if he will have match rust are all questions that are facing the Spanish team.  David Ferrer has had a lot of success in Davis Cup competition.  Even when he was struggling last season and seemed to not be able to buy a win went out and dismantled a favored Andy Roddick in the semifinals.  Radek Stepanek is crafty and has been able to beat Ferrer on clay.  I can easily see this match going 5 tough sets.  At the end Radek Stepanek will be the victor and even the final at 1-1.

Saturdays Match:

The only match on Saturday will be the doubles match of Fernando Verdasco, and Feliciano Lopez for Spain, facing the Czech team of Lukas Dlouhy and Jan Hajak.  Verdasco and Lopez are the superior singles players, without a question.  Dlouhy and Hajak are doubles specialists, who commit most of their time and efforts to doubles.  Lopez and Verdasco make a good doubles team, and have had quite a bit of success in the Davis Cup competitions, but I like Dlouhy and Hajak to upset the Spaniards and give the Czech Republic a surprising 2-1 lead going into Sunday.

Sundays Matches:

Rafael Nadal (ESP)  vs.  Radek Stepanek (CZE)

This will be just like Fridays match against Berdych for Nadal.  Nadal on clay is head-shoulders-waiste better than any of the Czech players.  Nadal will even the final at 2-2 with a straight set victory.

David Ferrer (ESP)  vs.  Tomas Berdych (CZE)

This is where it will get interesting.  I don't see Ferrer participating in this match.  With the Davis Cup on the line look for the Spanish team to replace a struggling Ferrer with Fernando Verdasco for this match.  Which is unfortunate for the Czech Republic.  If Ferrer were to play I think the Czech's would claim the upset and take the Davis Cup back to Prague, but look for Fernando Verdasco to repeat history.  Last year Verdasco filled in on the last day of competition against Argentina and won the Davis Cup clinching match.  Verdasco will beat Berdych to once again claim victory for Spain 3 matches to 2.