Davis Cup Preview By Kate Flory 2004-11-28 from Roddick官网 http://0rz.net/1704a !Vamos a Sevilla! The 2004 Davis Cup Final will be contested by Spain and the USA in the Andalucian part of Spain, and you can be sure it is going to be a red hot encounter. With a Spanish team that consists of Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Tommy Robredo and Rafael Nadal, many people have pitched them as favourites to regain the title that they last won in 2000 against Australia in Barcelona. They came close last year, but in a re-match against the Aussies in the final they came up short as the grass got the better of them. This year though, the conditions weigh heavily in Spain's favour and America's team of Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish, Vince Spadea, and the Bryan twins will have a hard job in wrestling this one from their grip. Led by team captain Patrick McEnroe, the young group of Americans must travel to southern Spain to take on the Spanish in a hotbed of clay and 23000 fanatical aficionados. As America's number one, Andy Roddick, commented in a recent interview, "It's not going to be easy playing in Spain. It'll be cold, on clay and they will have 23 grand of their closest friends watching them." The ability of the Americans to perform on the clay has been questioned in anticipation of this final, and certainly none of their clay court records can be compared with those of the Spanish. But the Davis Cup has a unique and special ingredient that should not be overlooked, the passion of representing one's country. This does amazing things to people and unexpected victories are numerous on the big stages. In recent years Davis Cup ties have played host to Lleyton Hewitt gaining a massive victory over Albert Costa in Barcelona on clay and also taking out clay court master Gustavo Kuerten in Brazil. Most unbelievably, Alex Corretja got the better of seven time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras on grass in Houston and Carlos Moya turned over Mark Philippoussis on grass in Melbourne. The list continues, so we should certainly be prepared for the unexpected! It will certainly take a monumental effort from the Americans to bring the Davis Cup home. Roddick himself said, "The cards are stacked against us." Many people are of the opinion that Andy is the key figure for the Americans, and for them to stand any chance, he must pull through in his matches. Lleyton Hewitt, twice a Davis Cup winner with Australia said, "Roddick holds the key." But he too can see the American struggling with the surface – "Andy is going to have his hands full on a slow clay court against him (Moya), and whether Ferrero is playing his best tennis or not, he plays awesome in Davis Cup." US davis Cup champion, Jim Courier shares the view of Hewitt. "There is no question on the clay, that they are a superior team on paper. Andy Roddick is going to have to rise to the occasion and I believe that he needs to win both of his singles matches to stand a chance." It would seem that Andy has all the pressure loaded on him, but the doubles is also very important for America. The Bryan twins have previously won the French Open and are no strangers to the European clay. As Hewitt remarks, "The doubles is a must win for America – an absolute must." Winning the Davis Cup is very important to both teams playing in the final and is sure to be a hotly contested event. Despite entering as underdogs, the Americans have a fighting chance to turn the tables on the Spaniards, none of whom have been in their best form of late. Juan Carlos Ferrero has not played since the Davis Cup semi finals and will, perhaps, not be quite the same force he was when he won the French Open. It is the last event of the year, and the one they have all prepared for during the last few months. Representing your country is one of the greatest honours to which an athlete can aspire. The team that wins this Davis Cup final will surely be the most deserved champions. -- My Precious.......XD http://www.pixnet.net/displayimage.php?user=sunny613&pos=-2750142 ~Andy Roddick签名鞋~ --

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