zatoicchi
19.09.08, 09:51
MADRID, Spain (AP)—Sam Querrey always knew his Davis Cup debut was going to be difficult. This, however, is as rough as it gets.
The 20-year-old American will face top-ranked Rafael Nadal in Friday’s opening singles of the Davis Cup semifinal against Spain. The match will be played on Nadal’s favorite surface—clay—before a capacity crowd of 21,000 in the Las Ventas bullfighting arena.
No. 8 Andy Roddick faces No. 5 David Ferrer in the other singles on the first day of the best-of-five format.
“Either one of those guys, Rafa or David, they’re unbelievable players,” said Querrey, a last-minute substitute for James Blake. “So either way it would have been a tough debut, but it’ll be a good starting point for me whatever happens.”
Spain is an overwhelming favorite to reach its sixth Davis Cup final. The reigning champion U.S., which has won a record 32 Davis Cup titles, was left scrambling following the withdrawals of Blake and Bob Bryan.
Mardy Fish will team with Mike Bryan for Saturday’s doubles against Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.
American Davis Cup team hoping for a feat on clay (http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylt=ApCyB6sRYT6.R96jkbvaXUI4v7YF?slug=ap-daviscup-spain-us&prov=ap&type=lgns)
The 20-year-old American will face top-ranked Rafael Nadal in Friday’s opening singles of the Davis Cup semifinal against Spain. The match will be played on Nadal’s favorite surface—clay—before a capacity crowd of 21,000 in the Las Ventas bullfighting arena.
No. 8 Andy Roddick faces No. 5 David Ferrer in the other singles on the first day of the best-of-five format.
“Either one of those guys, Rafa or David, they’re unbelievable players,” said Querrey, a last-minute substitute for James Blake. “So either way it would have been a tough debut, but it’ll be a good starting point for me whatever happens.”
Spain is an overwhelming favorite to reach its sixth Davis Cup final. The reigning champion U.S., which has won a record 32 Davis Cup titles, was left scrambling following the withdrawals of Blake and Bob Bryan.
Mardy Fish will team with Mike Bryan for Saturday’s doubles against Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco.
American Davis Cup team hoping for a feat on clay (http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylt=ApCyB6sRYT6.R96jkbvaXUI4v7YF?slug=ap-daviscup-spain-us&prov=ap&type=lgns)