Argentina Face Test of Resources
16 Sep 2003 - Richard Evans
If any nation can survive the loss of top players through injury
it is Argentina, and that will be put to the test in this weekend's
semifinal of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas against Spain.
The likely loss of Guillermo Coria and David Nalbandian, currently
ranked fifth and ninth in the world, is a devastating blow to Argentina's
hopes of defeating Spain in Malaga. Both these rising stars fell victim
to the wear and tear of the US hard court circuit and played their last
matches at the US Open suffering from a variety of injuries.
It is likely that the injured pair will be replaced (possibly by Mariano
Zabaleta and Lucas Arnold) in the Argentine squad, but the Argentine
Association have not formally notified the ITF of these changes. This
is because under Davis Cup rules, a nation can make two changes to its
squad up to one hour before the draw; if the replacements were officially
named, and one or both subsequently became injured themselves, they could
not then be replaced.
However, the Argentines have six players in the top fifty and the
Spanish will not fall into the trap of thinking they have the tie
won just because Coria and Nalbandian have pulled out.
Gaston Gaudio, possessor of one of the best backhands in the game,
will have no fear when he faces world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero,
because he has a 5-4 winning record over the Roland Garros champion.
Meanwhile Mariano Zabaleta, who may well compete with Agustin Calleri
for the No 2 singles berth, has been enjoying the best year of his
career to date.
Lucas Arnold, a highly experienced doubles expert who won the title
in Valencia with Mariano Hood earlier this year, is expected to
partner either Zabaleta or Calleri in the doubles rubber.
The setting in Malaga will be a new one for all the players.
"I am not quite sure where it is," admitted Moya. "I understand they
are building something in a parking lot."
That is, in fact, the case. Bleachers big enough to handle 12,000
spectators are being specially constructed, just as they were in
Santander for the semifinal against the United States three years
ago, on a site midway between Malaga and the airport.
Santander witnessed one of the most devastating displays of Spanish
claycourt prowess, the team of Alex Corretja, Albert Costa, Juan
Balcells and a very junior reserve called Juan Carlos Ferrero crushing
John McEnroe's USA team 5-0. But Argentina has more claycourt experience,
and a repeat 5-0 scoreline is much less likely this time.
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