Davis Cup Final Preview: Spain vs. Argentina

The last significant tennis action of 2011 will see superpowers Spain and Argentina go head to head for World Group glory in the Davis Cup Final, held at the Olympic Stadium in Seville.

As expected, Spain will go into the three day event as huge favourites and this is enhanced further by their crucial home advantage.

Although the Davis Cup is regularly overshadowed by the individual game as players seek to compete on the hectic ATP Tour week in week out, representatives of Spain and Argentina have collectively remained focused on attaining national achievement and pride as well as personal success.

And it is clear to see why both nations have made it to the showpiece considering the abundance of talent available at the disposal of team captains Albert Costa and Modesto Vazquez.

After triumphing in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009, Spain will be seeking to lift their fifth Davis Cup title and their bid will unsurprisingly be spearheaded by the sensational Rafael Nadal.

Spain overcame Argentina via a dramatic fifth rubber in the 2008 final however they managed to do so without the imperious Mallorcan – so it obvious that their chances of winning the rematch are extremely strong thanks to his return.

Argentina do have their own star nevertheless in the shape of 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro, who is almost back to his best following a lengthy injury lay-off and rehabilitation process.

Due to their close rivalry and matched ability, it is likely that Rafa and Del Potro will come to blows and it is a rubber which the Argentine must win if his team are to stand any chance of lifting the trophy for the first time in their history.

An unenviable task for sure, but one which Del Potro should relish as he is unlikely to feel as much pressure as Nadal who will also be worn down by the physical and mental effects of a long, hard campaign – capped just a week prior to the Davis Cup Final at the World Tour Finals in London.

Nadal’s Spanish pride and the expectation of the home supporters will probably be the factors which see him through, but it would also be no surprise to see him remain in excellent condition despite the rigours he has faced over the last twelve months.

All in all, Argentina will be up against it and that is typified by their odds of 5/1 which are huge for what is essentially a two horse race.

But with David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Nicolas Almagro in the Spanish ranks, the Iberians really do hold an advantage on almost all areas of the court against their opponents.

The singles rubbers should be monopolised, as even without Nadal, the aforementioned trio are better than Juan Monaco, Juan Ignacio Chela and David Nalbandian as ATP Rankings will demonstrate.

Argentina at best can hope that the tie isn’t over by the end of day two – and they do hold a realistic chance of winning the third rubber with doubles specialist Eduardo Schwank on board.

At lengthy odds on, Spain do not exactly provide the backer with a great deal of value but from a betting perspective, a 4-1 score-line in favour of the home side looks reasonably tempting at likely odds of around 2/1.

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12/12/2011     © Frixo 2024