23 Sep 2004 - Plaza de Toros de Alicante, Alicante, ESP - Chris Bowers Forget Springs Selection Surprise The draw for the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Semifinal in Alicante between Spain and France has been made and is as follows: Carlos Moya (ESP) v Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) v Fabrice Santoro (FRA) Rafael Nadal/Tommy Robredo (ESP) v Michael Llodra/Fabrice Santoro (FRA) Carlos Moya (ESP) v Fabrice Santoro (FRA) Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) v Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) After sitting out Davis Cup by BNP Paribas for more than a year, Fabrice Santoro returns to action this weekend with possibly the most important role in France's semifinal away to Spain. The 31-year-old Frenchman, admired across the tennis world for the wizardry he can weave with his unorthodox strokes, has been thrown in to face the former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero on the opening day of the world group semifinal in the impressive Alicante bull ring. And it seems hard to imagine France winning without at least two victories by Santoro. Though Santoro and his doubles partner Michael Llodra are ranked well above Arnaud Clement, most observers expected Clement to challenge the out-of-form Ferrero on the temporary claycourt. But Forget, having just repaired the broken bridges between him and Santoro which led to Santoro's absence from France's two ties this year, has asked the 36th-ranked wizard to face the former French Open champion, and team up with Llodra in Saturday's doubles. "I owe it to the tie to pick my best players on the first day," said Forget explaining his decision, "and Fabrice is playing best at the moment. I realise many people will be surprised, but to me it is a justifiable decision." Any team selection by Forget has to be seen in the context of two factors: firstly the absence of France's top-ranked player Sebastien Grosjean, who may not play for the rest of the year as a result of a persistent thigh injury; and secondly the fact that France under Forget have consistently achieved more in Davis Cup by BNP Paribas than the rankings of their players suggest. But the return of Santoro to play singles and doubles is somewhat surprising, as well as being a victory for conflict resolution. Forget dropped him for this year's first round tie against Croatia, saying he wasnot a team player, and Santoro missed the quarterfinal away to Switzerland which France won thanks to Nicolas Escude's fifth-rubber win over Michel Kratochvil. But with Escude and Grosjean injured, the motive was there for the bridges to be rebuilt, and both Forget and Santoro are pleased the differences are now behind them. "I'm very happy to be back in the team," said Santoro. "It's great to start the Davis Cup year in the semifinals. Nobody can be confident about playing Ferrero on clay, no one player in the world can be sure to beat him, but I've played well in practice in the last few days, and that's why I'll be on the court." Ferrero v Santoro is the second of the opening day's singles. The action starts with the world No 6 Carlos Moya playing the 77th-ranked but in-form Paul-Henri Mathieu. While Moya takes an unbeaten run of eight straight Davis Cup singles wins into the match, Mathieu returns to the competition for the first time since his heartbreaking five-sets defeat to Mikhail Youzhny in the fifth rubber of the 2002 final, in which he squandered a two-sets lead. "That's in the past," said Mathieu, "but win or lose it's good experience to take into this match." As expected, Spain's captain Jordi Arrese has nominated the US Open semifinalists Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo to face Llodra and Santoro in the doubles. -- 生无以建立奇绝 死当含无穷之恨 --

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