2010 - An Historic End

by Savannah

The victory of the Serbian Davis Cup team over nine time Davis Cup champions France 3-2 closed out the ATP 2010 season. As the exhibition season gets under way the rich will get richer and everyone else will rest up for the beginning of the 2011 season in Australia.

Serbia's President was an enthusiastic fan as Novak Djokovic and Viktor Troicki led their team to victory after a crushing doubles loss the day before.

French Captain Guy Forget will have to live with the questions regarding his choice of 30 year old Michael Llodra to play the live fifth rubber. Llodra had played a hour doubles match the day before and struggled at times during that victory. It was obvious from the beginning that Llodra had no legs and his struggles with the surface became blatant.

Viktor Troicki, who had been considered a sacrificial lamb showed why you can't call a match until it's played. Troicki, buoyed by the crowd played the match of his career and as had been previously agreed, got his head shorn with the rest of the team and its Captain.

Congratulations to the Serbians for their first Davis Cup victory.

Miscellany

Both Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic were seen at the Davis Cup tie in Belgrade, Serbia

Confirming a rumor that surfaced during the WTF in London Robin Soderling has parted ways with Magnus Norman. His new coach will be Italian Claudio Pistolesi.

Year End Rankings - Top 20

ATP Singles

1 Nadal 12450

2 Federer 9145

3 Djokovic 6240

4 Murray 5760

5 Soderling 5580

6 Berdych 3955

7 Ferrer 3735

8 Roddick 3665

9 Verdasco 3240

10 Youzhny 2920

11 Melzer 2785

12 Monfils 2560

13 Tsonga 2345

14 Cilic 2300

15 Almagro 2160

16 Fish 1991

17 Ljubicic 1965

18 Querrey 1860

19 Isner 1850

20 Baghdatis 1785

WTA - Singles

1 Wozniacki, Caroline DEN 8035

2 Zvonareva, Vera RUS 6785

3 Clijsters, Kim BEL 6635

4 Williams, Serena USA 5355

5 Williams, Venus USA 4985

6 Stosur, Samantha AUS 4982

7 Schiavone, Francesca ITA 4935

8 Jankovic, Jelena SRB 4445

9 Dementieva, Elena RUS 4335

10 Azarenka, Victoria BLR 4235

11 Li, Na CHN 3555

12 Henin, Justine BEL 3415

13 Peer, Shahar ISR 3365

14 Radwanska, Agnieszka POL 3000

15 Petrova, Nadia RUS 2702

16 Bartoli, Marion FRA 2645

17 Ivanovic, Ana SRB 2600

18 Sharapova, Maria RUS 2591

19 Rezai, Aravane FRA 2575

20 Kirilenko, Maria RUS 2550

The Dimitrov Incident

Nothing new to report on Grigor Dimitrov's physical assault on chair umpire Daniel Infanger in Helsinki. As you know Dimitrov has been fined two thousand Euros and is waiting to find out if he will be assessed further fines, be suspended.or both. The incident happened at a Challenger event and is therefore under the jurisdiction of the ITF. As the Serena Williams case showed the final dispensation can come weeks after the initial incident.

Speaking of Serena I find it amazing that there is so much sentiment for Dimitrov to get away with just a slap on the wrist. No suspension they say. The fine was great based on his current level of compensation from professional tennis. Serena's fine was justified because she's the bigger star. In one word, bullshit. If a verbal assault resulted in a $90,000 fine a physical assault should result in a verbal spanking and nothing else? If you recall people wanted Serena heavily fined and suspended for a very long time. In the real world Dimitrov would be charged with assault. Nothing would've been done to Serena.

Is there something else at work here? Why so much sympathy for Dimitrov? Reminds me of how no one talks about the
Yanina Wickmayer incident. Double standard is the least of what is going on here.

Let's Hear It For The Ladies

by Savannah

While the men were all over the globe playing Davis Cup the women were playing in China and Canada. More on Davis Cup later.

Tamira Paszek won her last tournament four years ago at Portoroz. That tournament is believed to be cursed since it seemed that once you win there you won't win anyplace else again. Well I guess Tamira, who overcame American Bethanie Mattek-Sands has broken the curse.

Sofia Arvidsson and Johanna Larsson won the doubles at Quebec City. It was the first win for them.

Jarmila Groth of Australia won the championship in Guangzhou. Runner up Alla Kudrayetseva is seen in the background with the flowers.

Sania Mirza paired up with Edina Gallovits to win the doubles crown in Guangzhou.
Davis Cup

France will travel to Belgrade, Serbia for the Davis Cup Final. On it's way to the final France defeated Spain. It was thought that Argentina, led by David Nalbandian, would give the French a run for their money. It was not to be.

Serbia defeated a Czech team led by Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek to gain their first ever trip to a Davis Cup Final.
Congratulations to both teams.
Patrick McEnroe

The United States Davis Cup team was staring relegation in the face as it took the court to face off against the team from Colombia. The tie was being held in the captial, Bogota, situated over 8,000 feet above sea level. This was Patrick McEnroe's farewell to the Captaincy and it was hoped that he would hand over a team still in the World Group. It was a struggle but a blood spattered Mardy Fish won the first reverse singles match 8-6 in the fifth set to give the United States a victory that at times looked in doubt. As I write this no announcement has been made as to who will take over from McEnroe. Whoever it is will have large shoes to fill. No matter what the younger McEnroe brother is to be commended on his stewardship of the US Team. He managed to instill the concept of team in his players and when they took the court no one thought of them as pushovers, even on the red clay of Europe. Goodbye and good luck Patrick.

Complete results are listed below.

WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS

FRANCE defeated ARGENTINA 5-0

Venue: Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon, France (hard - indoors)

Michael Llodra (FRA) d. Juan Monaco (ARG) 75 46 75 63

Gael Monfils (FRA) d. David Nalbandian (ARG) 64 26 64 63

Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra (FRA) d. Eduardo Schwank/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 64 75 63

Gilles Simon (FRA) d. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 76(5) 67(6) 63

Arnaud Clement (FRA) d. Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 75 61

SERBIA defeated CZECH REPUBLIC 3-2

Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia (hard - indoors)

Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 46 62 64 64

Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 75 62 26 76(5)

Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Novak Djokovic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) 36 61 64 61

Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 46 63 62 64

Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) d Radek Stepanek (CZE) 60 76(6) 64

WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS

USA defeated COLOMBIA 3-1

Venue: Plaza de Toros La Santamaria, Bogota, Colombia (clay – outdoors)

Mardy Fish (USA) d. Alejandro Falla (COL) 46 61 64 36 64

Santiago Giraldo (COL) d. Sam Querrey (USA) 62 64 75

Mardy Fish/John Isner (USA) d. Robert Farah/Carlos Salamanca (COL) 64 64 67(5) 63

Mardy Fish (USA) d. Santiago Giraldo (COL) 36 63 75 46 86

Alejandro Falla (COL) v Sam Querrey (USA)

AUSTRIA defeated ISRAEL 3-2

Venue: Nokia Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel (hard – indoors)

Dudi Sela (ISR) d. Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) 64 61 63

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Harel Levy (ISR) 64 63 63

Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram (ISR) d. Jurgen Melzer/Alexander Peya (AUT) 76(2) 64 64

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Dudi Sela (ISR) 64 60 63

Martin Fischer (AUT) d. Harel Levy (ISR) 26 63 60 63

GERMANY defeated SOUTH AFRICA 5-0

Venue: TC Weissenhof Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany (clay – outdoors)

Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) d. Rik de Voest (RSA) 64 64 64

Florian Mayer (GER) d. Izak van der Merwe (RSA) 63 36 61 76(6)

Andreas Beck/Christopher Kas (GER) d. Rik de Voest/Wesley Moodie (RSA) 64 36 63 64

Andreas Beck (GER) d. Izak van der Merwe (RSA) 75 62

Florian Mayer (GER) d. Rik de Voest (RSA) 63 67(8) 62

SWEDEN defeated ITALY 3-2

Venue: Sparbanken Lidkoping Arena, Lidkoping, Sweden (hard – indoors)

Potito Starace (ITA) d. Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) 62 62 62

Robin Soderling (SWE) d. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 61 63 62

Simon Aspelin/Robert Lindstedt (SWE) d. Simone Bolelli/Potito Starace (ITA) 57 67(0) 76(4) 63 75

Robin Soderling (SWE) d. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 63 63 63

Fabio Fognini (ITA) d. Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) 61 63

INDIA defeated BRAZIL 3-2

Venue: SDAT Tennis Stadium, Chennai, India (hard – outdoors)

Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) d. Rohan Bopanna (IND) 67(2) 76(7) 75 46 108

Ricardo Mello (BRA) d. Somdev Devvarman (IND) 46 62 67(3) 62 64

Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND) d. Marcelo Melo/Bruno Soares (BRA) 64 76(5) 61

Somdev Devvarman (IND) d. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 76(4) 40 ret. (heat)

Rohan Bopanna (IND) d. Ricardo Mello (BRA) 63 76(2) 63

BELGIUM defeated AUSTRALIA 3-2

Venue: Cairns Regional Tennis Centre, Cairns, Australia (hard – outdoors)

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d. Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) 76(4) 75 26 64

Olivier Rochus (BEL) d. Carsten Ball (AUS) 64 64 76(5)

Paul Hanley/Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d. Ruben Bemelmans/Olivier Rochus (BEL) 61 62 64

Olivier Rochus (BEL) d. Peter Luczak (AUS) 76(8) 64 67(0) 76(2)

Steve Darcis (BEL) d. Carsten Ball (AUS) 76(4) 63 64

KAZAKHSTAN defeated SWITZERLAND 5-0

Venue: The National Tennis Centre, Astana, Kazakhstan (hard – indoors)

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 64 64 64

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) d. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 36 61 64 16 63

Andrey Golubev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) d. Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 64 63 63

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Michael Lammer (SUI) 63 62

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) d. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 62 64

ROMANIA defeated ECUADOR 5-0

Venue: Centrul National de Tenis, Bucharest, Romania (clay – outdoors)

Victor Hanescu (ROU) d. Ivan Endara (ECU) 62 62 62

Adrian Ungur (ROU) d. Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 67(2) 46 63 64 61

Victor Hanescu/Horia Tecau (ROU) d. Ivan Endara/Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 62 62 62

Victor Crivoi (ROU) d. Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 62 64

Adrian Ungur (ROU) d. Emilio Gomez (ECU) 63 64

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND PLAY-OFFS

SLOVAK REPUBLIC defeated BELARUS 4-1

Venue: Republic Olympic Training Center for Tennis, Minsk, Belarus (hard – outdoors)

Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) d. Martin Klizan (SVK) 76(9) 62 62

Lukas Lacko (SVK) d. Siarhei Betau (BLR) 60 64 64

Michael Mertinak/Filip Polasek (SVK) d. Uladzimir Ignatik/Max Mirnyi (BLR) 76(5) 76(6) 36 46 64

Lukas Lacko (SVK) d. Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) 61 36 61 67(7) 64

Martin Klizan (SVK) d. Siarhei Betau (BLR) 76(2) 62

POLAND defeated LATVIA 3-2

Venue: Olympic Sports Centre, Riga, Latvia (carpet – indoors)

Michal Przysiezny (POL) d. Andis Juska (LAT) 63 64 64

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Jerzy Janowicz (POL) 64 64 36 62

Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) d. Andis Juska/Deniss Pavlovs (LAT) 63 64 76(4)

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Michael Przysiezny (POL) 67(5) 61 62 75

Jerzy Janowicz (POL) d. Karlis Lejnieks (LAT) 75 64 76(3)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND PLAY-OFF

CANADA defeated DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 4-0

Venue: Rexall Centre - Grandstand Court, Toronto, Canada (hard – outdoors)

Peter Polansky (CAN) d. Jhonson Garcia (DOM) 76(4) 46 63 63

Milos Raonic (CAN) d. Victor Estrella (DOM) 57 62 36 76(3) 97

Frank Dancevic/Daniel Nestor (CAN) d. Victor Estrella/Jhonson Garcia (DOM) 63 64 63

Peter Polansky (CAN) d. Victor Estrella (DOM) 61 62

Milos Raonic (CAN) v Jhonson Garcia (DOM)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND PLAY-OFF

PHILIPPINES defeated KOREA, REP. 3-2

Venue: Chanwon Municipal Tennis Courts, Changwon, Korea, Rep. (hard – outdoors)

Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR) d. Treat Huey (PHI) 67(8) 62 76(7) 76(4)

Suk-Young Jeong (KOR) d. Cecil Mamiit (PHI) 06 16 63 60 62

Cecil Mamiit / Treat Huey (PHI) d. Hyun-Joon Kim/Jae-Min Seol (KOR) 63 64 64

Cecil Mamiit (PHI) d. Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR) 36 46 64 11 ret.

Treat Huey (PHI) d. Suk-Young Jeong (KOR) 75 75 63

EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II THIRD ROUND

SLOVENIA defeated LITHUANIA 3-2

Venue: SEB Arena, Vilnius, Lithuania (hard - indoors)

Richard Berankis (LTU) d. Blaz Kavcic (SLO) 36 62 76(9) 64

Grega Zemlja (SLO) d. Laurynas Grigelis (LTU) 63 76(4) 63

Richard Berankis/Laurynas Grigelis (LTU) d. Grega Zemla/Luka Gregorc (SLO) 57 46 61 63 63

Grega Zemlja (SLO) d. Richard Berankis (LTU) 76(2) 64 63

Blaz Kavcic (SLO) d. Laurynas Grigelis (LTU) 64 76(4) 76(5)

PORTUGAL defeated BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA 3-1

Venue: Centro de Tenis Do Jamor, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal (clay – outdoors)

Frederico Gil (POR) d. Amer Delic (BIH) 63 64 67(14) 36 97

Aldin Setkic (BIH) d. Rui Machado (POR) 64 63 16 61

Frederico Gil/Leonardo Tavares (POR) d. Amer Delic/Aldin Setkic (BIH) 61 64 46 64

Frederico Gil (POR) d. Aldin Setkic (BIH) 64 63 63

Rui Machado (POR) v Amer Delic (BIH)

AMERICAS ZONE GROUP II FINAL

MEXICO defeated VENEZUELA 4-0

Venue: Rafael El Pelon Osuna, Delg. Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico (clay – outdoors)

Daniel Garza (MEX) d. Roman Recarte (VEN) 62 62 62

Cesar Ramirez (MEX) d. Jose De Armas (VEN) 61 63 63

Bruno Rodriguez/Miguel Angel Reyes Varela (MEX) d. Jose De Armas/Piero Luisi (VEN) 76(2) 63 62

Daniel Garza (MEX) d. Luis David Martinez (VEN) 64 61

Cesar Ramirez (MEX) v Piero Luisi (VEN)

ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II FINAL

NEW ZEALAND defeated THAILAND 3-2

Venue: National Tennis Development Centre (LTAT), Nontheburi, Thailand (hard – outdoors)

Michael Venus (NZL) d. Weerapat Doakmaiklee (THA) 63 62 76(1)

Jose Statham (NZL) d. Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) 46 76(5) 61 76(2)

Sanchai Ratiwatana/Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA) d. Daniel King-Turner/Michael Venus (NZL) 06 67(6) 60 63 64

Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) d. Michael Venus (NZL) 75 76(6) 62

Jose Statham (NZL) d. Sanchai Ratiwatana (THA) 61 64 63

Fed Cup News
The six top ranked women players in Spain have announced that they will be boycotting the 2011 Federation Cup. The reason given by Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Arantxa Parra Santonja, Carla Suarez Navarro, Nuria Llagostera Vives and Lourdes Dominguez Lino is lack of support from Spain's national tennis organization, the RFET. As you would expect the RFET replied listing thirtenn points showing how well they support their women players. At this time the women are sticking to their guns about the boycott. More on this as the situation develops.

It's Spain

by Savannah


You have to play the matches. As soon as Argentina knew it was facing Spain the maneuvers began. No clay, no outdoors. Going against it's strength Argentina went for indoor hard, the surface that David Nalbandian excels on. Then there was the brawl over where the tie would be played. David wanted his home territory but the resort area of Mar del Plata won out.

Once it became clear the world number one would not play the Final Argentina could be forgiven for thinking they had the tie in the bag. No
Juan Carlos Ferrero. No
Tommy Robredo. Instead the Spanish team would be led by Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, two men not known as giants of will on the court. Davis Cup Captain Emilio Sanchez was second guessed every step of the way and when David won the opening rubber against a listless David Ferrer it looked as if things were not going to go Spain's way at all.

But in the end it was the play of the two least likely heroes, Feli and Nando that won the cup. In both doubles and in singles including Sunday's marathon fourth rubber that ran over three hours that the two men dropped the sobriquet "mental midget" being added to their names. It's a discussion for another time but if both men embrace their inner hard court player their lives would be much easier.

As Emilio Sanchez said there will be lots of wine. I'm sure a glass will be raised to the man who wasn't there, the man who got them there and whose specter made it sure that the tie would take place in a setting that would bring out the best of his team mates and stop making it a given that if you play Spain do it on an indoor hard court.

Congratulations to Spain on the win.

Davis Cup Final - The Battle Royale

by Savannah


Well, well, well. Spain leads Argentina and it's rabid tennis fans 2-1. Spain needs to win one more rubber. Argentina needs to win two. Risky business David Nalbandian playing must win doubles today with Agustin Calleri instead of Jose Acasuso against the Spanish team of Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. In hindsight does Mancini wish he'd gone with his announced roster and have a rested David ready for tomorrow? We all know hindsight is 20/20.

The announced line up is as follows for tomorrow but the team doctor for Argentina said that Juan Martin's chances of playing were slim.

Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) v David Ferrer (ESP)
David Nalbandian (ARG) v Feliciano Lopez (ESP)

Keep in mind changes can be made at the last minute. I wonder if
Rafa was watching from Mauritius and pulling his hair out by the roots during that third set tie break? Captain Emilio Sanchez wasn't taking his calls yesterday - he said he didn't have his cell phone on - but the players were. Wonder if he took them today?

Davis Cup Final Update 9/30/2008

by Savannah


The Argentine Davis Cup team, led by David Nalbandian and with the support of Captain Mancini put on a full court press against the AAT, the Argentine tennis federation, and have apparently won round one of their battle as to where the final will be held.

Davis Cup - Argentina nominates indoor venue
Eurosport - Tue, 30 Sep 14:08:00 2008

The Argentine Tennis Association has nominated the indoor Estadio Orfeo Superdomo in Cordoba as its preferred venue for the Davis Cup finals in November.

Argentina have previous only hosted Davis Cup clashes on claycourts but the AAT has chosen the carpeted venue for the final in a bid to remove Spain's main strength.

"In order of preference, Cordoba has been chosen, with the Estadio Orfeo the first choice to be the venue of the final of the World Group," the AAT said.

"As an alternative to be considered by the ITF [International Tennis Federation], the Estadio Islas Malvinas in Mar del Plata was nominated. The AAT board decided to prioritise the sporting advantage."

The Estadio Islas Malvinas is also an indoor venue.

The ITF must now approve the venue before it can be confirmed. But while they generally require a venue with a seating capacity of at least 12,000, the Cordoba venue can only hold 8,000.

The AAT also announced they are looking at ways of expanding the capacity for the final which is due to be held from November 21-23.

David Nalbandian had already said he would prefer Cordoba to host the final.

"Cordoba has the best conditions compared with the others," Nalbandian said last week. "I was born in this province so I would love to play here, but there are a lot of other factors to be considered and we are working to choose the right option."
Pippa Davis Eurosport

The ITF has stated that it will look for stadiums that can seat a minimum of 12,000. Both sites chosen are below that capacity. If the ITF nixes both locations it remains to be seen whether the event will by default be held at the Parque Roca, site of the semi final tie against Russia. The Argentines want an indoor arena with a pretty fast carpet. To turn Parque Roca into an indoor arena an already intact roof would have to be imported and the clay court covered.

One of the papers in Argentina is reporting that the surface will be "composcushion" a surface made by a Spanish company named Composan. It is said to be an acrylic material set on an asphalt agglomerate base. It is also known as Tennislife cushion. Depending on your source it's a hardcourt(ATP) and not a carpet or a fast indoor surface (ITF).

I'm no expert but that surface in Bangkok was playing very fast. There's also the surface the United States used in Winston Salem against Spain. That was compared to an ice skating rink.

Tennis Talk

I wonder what location and surface will be chosen for the United States vs Switzerland next March? Both teams are good on fast courts. Neither is great on red clay. There is talk that the site may be Chicago, Illinois in the midwestern United States.

I also wonder what team Patrick McEnroe will field. Does he go with the future and keep
Sam Querrey on the team or will he go back to James Blake who thrives on a hard court?

Oh, and for those who are wondering there's been no new news from Srdjan Djokovic about how the ITF is picking on Serbia and by extension his son.

Idle Chit Chat

From the New York Daily News

Maria Sharapova has a new boyfriend: Charlie Ebersol, son of NBC Sports chairman Dick. But that didn't stop the tennis hottie from putting herself up for auction at the Bryan Brothers' All-Star Tennis Smash charity event last weekend. Despite Sharapova's joke that "My boyfriend will outbid you," one lucky guy won a date with the bombshell - for just $10,000.

Camilla Belle is shooting a movie so it's not clear if Maria's bff was there. I mean with Ana Ivanovic getting all the boy friend press down to looking worn out saying goodbye in a Beijing hotel lobby something had to be done no? Just sayin'. I hope this one lasts longer than her other relationships.

It's On

by Savannah

There was no dead rubber in cloudy, chilly Buenos Aires. Team Argentina needed five rubbers to defeat Team Russia and clinch a berth in the Final which will be held in December. Argentina will play host to Spain, winners over defending Davis Cup champions the United States. Details will follow but as usual tennisheads are speculating over what could be the deciding factor - the surface the tie will be played on. Team Argentina's Captain Mancini has apparently indicated the preferred surface will be indoor carpet, the surface favored by David Nalbandian. Juan Martin del Potro, the rising star of Argentine tennis, will have to prove how well he can play on the stuff during the European Indoor Season.

The site of the tie is also up in the air since David Nalbandian would prefer to have it in his native Cordoba. The size of the stadium there does not meet ITF requirements but there is always the chance Nalbandian will have his way.

Regardless of where it is held anyone who had a chance to watch any of the matches from BsAs saw what a savvy, rowdy crowd can do to players during a match. There is still lingering tension among Argentine's over the incident between Rafael Nadal and Gaston Gaudio where Rafa allegedly used an anti South American Spanish slur against Gaudio. Keep in mind this supposedly happened three years ago and the tape of the incident doesn't prove it was Rafa who said it. I heard it and listened. It's inconclusive. I'm sure the Argentine press will be reminding tennis fans of the incident. And believe me they don't need an excuse to get on someone's case. Ask Nikolay Davydenko.


Just as the official Davis Cup site says, more soon.

Addendum: From the Official Davis Cup Site

The final will...be Argentina at home to Spain over the weekend of 21-23 November. It will be another few days before the venue is confirmed, but it is likely to be in Buenos Aires, and the front-runner is the 14,000-seater Parque Roca that has hosted all Argentina’s home ties since the start of 2006. The only logistical issue is that the home nation will probably want to choose a moderately quick hard court to face Nadal and co – having waited so long for a first home final, Argentina will not want to welcome the world’s greatest claycourter on his favourite surface.