Novak Djokovic optimistic ahead of draw in Benidorm: ‘We have quality, Spain won’t win’ Author: Z. Kecman | 05.03.2009 - 07:00 The Serbia Davis Cup team await in readiness today’s draw procedure for the tie against Spain in Benidorm. The determination of the pairs for the tie, to be held in the Town Hall at 11am Thursday, will reveal the pairs for the tennis clash. The two team’s head coaches, Aberto Costa of Spain and Serbia’ s Bogdan Obradovic, plan to disclose the names of the players immediately before the draw procedure. Good news from Spain is that the weather conditions have improved. Rain that was disrupting training sessions on Tuesday stopped yesterday. The fact practice is going on schedule has brought ease in the Serbia camp. - “The conditions are the same for everyone involved. To be honest, I did arrive somewhat later than others,” said the world’s number three Djokovic. Novak addressed the issue of the playing surface – the famous Spanish clay. - “This is simply the surface that suits the Spain team, they all grew up playing on it. It simply isn’t in our blood as much as it is in theirs. Every Spanish player, starting from the world’s No. 1 Rafael Nadal downward, have all achieved their best results on clay. They are impeccably physically prepared and the slowest surface suits them best. However, over the years they have been improving and are gradually mastering other surfaces, which has been confirmed by Rafael Nadal’s wins on grass and hard court in the past year,” says Novak. Djokovic stresses the opposition’s biggest asset is undoubtedly Rafael Nadal, as the world’s best player at the moment. - “Their biggest strength lies in the fact they are spearheaded by Rafa Nadal. When he is around they have the additional strength, especially ahead of their own crowd. But Davis Cup is such a competition that it’s not always that the favourite ends up with the win. One example is the last season’s final when Spain won away in Argentina, although depleted and without Rafa. Unlike at the ATP circuit, where we primarily represent ourselves and only then our country, here we all put Serbia first and that could prove to be the additional motivation to put on the best performance possible,” says Djokovic. Although Spain are favourites on paper, Serbia’s number one says the team stand solid chances of creating an upset. - “Although we’ve been dealt the toughest possible opposition by far, we cannot give up without a fight. I truly believe there are realistic chances of us beating Spain. We are a young team and full of potential, which is capable of taking on any opposition in the world. So, why not Spain?,” concludes Djokovic. -- ╭──────╥───────────────────╮ │██████║ ╭╮╭╮ ╭ ╭╮ ╭╮ ┐┌╮┌─ │ │██████║ ││││ │ ├╯ Ψ ├┤ │││├─ │ │██████║ ┘┘╰╯ ┘ ╰┘ ┘┘ ╯└╯└─ │ │Novak's Photos http://novakdjokovic.pixnet.net　　 │ ╰──────╨────────────────ψwi─╯ --

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