Coria the Key on Clay
12 Sep 2003 - Richard Evans
http://www.daviscup.org/news/newsarticle.asp?id=12455
Spain's Davis Cup semifinal against Argentina has been billed as
one of the few occasions in which the four nominated singles players
could all be in the world's top 10.
Whether that happens depends largely on the fitness of Guillermo Coria,
who emerged from his US Open quarterfinal with Andre Agassi carrying a
hamstring injury that is gradually healing, but may not heal in time
for the battle on the clay of Malaga.
And with Coria's hamstring could hang many of Argentina's hopes. Jose
Higueras, the former Spanish No 1 and legendary coach to Michael Chang
and Jim Courier, has pin-pointed the man from Rufino as the biggest
threat to Spain's chances of reaching the final of the 2003 Davis Cup
by BNP Paribas.
But even if Coria doesn't play, the tie will hardly shift dramatically
Spain's way. All players nominated to play made a significant impression
at the US Open earlier this month, and Argentina's back-up crew have done
well on the tour this year, notably when four Argentines made up the
semifinal line-up at the Tennis Masters Hamburg, the first time in the
13-year history of the Masters Series that one country has monopolised
the last four.
Spain will have US Open finalist and new world No. 1 Juan Carlos Fererro
accompanied by Carlos Moya, a former world No. 1, filling their singles
spots, while Argentina's top two are no less impressive. If Coria plays,
he will bring his four clay court titles won in Europe this year to the
table, and David Nalbandian was just one point away from reaching the US
Open final when he held match point against the ultimate champion Andy
Roddick in the third set of their semifinal.
Seldom has so much high-ranking clay court talent been on view in a Davis
Cup semifinal, but Higueras, who predicted Ferrero's rise to the top when
the youngster was still in his teens, feels Coria's bewitching skills
could have a decisive part to play in the outcome of the tie.
"Coria is a very special talent," said Higueras. "On a clay court he can
do everything. He's quick and clever and has great touch. He could pose
a lot of problems for Ferrero and Moya, and I think one of them will
need to beat him if Spain are to win because Nalbandian is very solid
and will take a lot of beating."
The doubles, as ever, could prove decisive in a closely fought tie,
and Spain are trusting the task to their two most experienced
performers, Alex Corretja and Albert Costa, who won bronze in the
doubles at the Sydney Olympics. Argentina, however, have ignored the
claims of a whole host of players with high doubles rankings such as
Martin Rodriguez (20), Mariano Hood (29), and Lucas Arnold (32) on
the basis that they need the top class singles back up of Gaston
Gaudio, Agustin Calleri and possibly Juan Ignacio Chela, who have
played very little doubles this year, in case of injury.
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. Temporary or,
not, this is a battle that promises to live in the memory.
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當我走進一個房間──總是一個房間，鏡子竟沒有將我認出？
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