來源：台維斯杯官網
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17 Jan 2003, David Law
Spain ready to ‘do something really big’, says Corretja
As far as the Davis Cup is concerned Alex Corretja has been there, won it,
and knows what goes into making a truly great team.
So, when the Spaniard who formed part of the winning team in 2000 looks
you in the eye and makes a prediction, it’s worth taking note.
“I think that with this team we could be ready to do something really big
again,” said Corretja, when asked about Spain’s chances in 2003.
“We have plenty of players, and especially with guys like [Juan Carlos]
Ferrero, [Albert] Costa, [Carlos] Moya - all top ten players - as well as
myself, [Tommy] Robredo, [Juan] Balcells, we have a really strong team.”
Spain open up against Belgium on clay in Seville, and even though their
opponents boast Xavier Malisse and the Rochus brothers [Olivier and
Christophe] as part of their team, and possibly emerging talent Kristof
Vliegen, Corretja is understandably confident.
“You never want to say that of course you are going to win but I have
to be honest, I really like the draw,” he said. “Especially because we are
playing in Spain and any time we play in Spain is going to be good for us.
On clay, I think we have a better team than they do, so when I saw the draw
I felt pretty comfortable.”
The year they won the Davis Cup in 2000, the Spaniards enjoyed all four
matches on home turf. Away from home and off their favoured clay court surface
though, they haven’t traditionally been as competitive.
The turning point came last year when they travelled to Houston to take on
Pete Sampras and the United States team, on grass, in the quarterfinals of the
World Group. No one gave Spain a chance on a specially imported grass court,
but on the opening day, Corretja achieved the seemingly impossible. Standing
two sets down to Sampras, the seven-time Wimbledon champion, Corretja came
all the way back to win.
“You know how Spanish people think and feel about grass,” said Corretja.
“Everybody thinks we can't play on grass, but I think I showed to everybody
that I could beat the best player on grass and any other surface, even though
I lost the first two sets on his court, in his country.”
Injury prevented him from playing any further part, and the United States
went on to win; but his victory over Sampras still ranks as one of the better
moments of his career.
"If we had won it would have been unbelievable, but for me anyway it was
a great moment, a great achievement because it’s never easy to do what I did,
especially after losing the first two sets. That was something big.”
But Corretja isn’t prepared to simply sit back and admire his work. He
believes Spain can now take confidence from last year’s road trip to go all
the way to the final this time.
"No matter what surface, I think we have shown that we can play anywhere,
no matter if it’s clay, hard court or grass,” he said.
“We have to understand that even if we play outside we have a chance to
win.”
Were Spain to beat Belgium, and America overcome Croatia in Zagreb, then
this year's Spain vs USA tie would obviously be in Spain, an added incentive
for Corretja and his team-mates.
It’s all about team-work for the team led by Jordi Arrese, he believes.
“We should try to be a team and always put the team first,” said Corretja.
“If the captain decides that you are not the one for this tie you have to
understand that. If you’re saying that you don’t understand why you are not
on the team you can create a bad atmosphere. I think it’s important to have
calm on the team.”
At least until the celebrations afterwards.
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Alex大哥真是個好人....每個人都有稱讚到...(連自己也是:P）
不過他也太誠實了吧！..."I really like the draw" →包包頭大俠會發怒的^^
~
VIVA Espana!!!!!
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