Well, that was fun.
As though Rafa Nadal needed any other way to establish himself as a hero in Spain, he did it again Sunday by scraping past a determined Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth rubber, 1-6 6-4 6-1 7-6(0).
Delpo seems to be a glutton for drama as this is the second match he's played this weekend that had so many twists and turns that it was never clear who would win until the last few minutes. Just like his match against Ferrer, this match was achingly close. The big man showed no obvious signs of fatigue on the outset as he unleashed one big shot after another to reduce Nadal to a mere clay court mortal. In what might have been the longest 6-1 set ever, Nadal helped out the big man by not holding his serve until the second set. It took a while but Nadal eventually found his range and turned the tide, taking the next two sets, 6-4, 6-1.
The fourth set was a roller coaster, as Nadal's service woes continued. He repeatedly broke delPo's serve only to see the big man erase the advantage in the very next game. Delpo's power got the better of the Spaniard and he was rewarded with the opportunity to take the match to a decisive fifth set, serving at 5-3. But Nadal broke serve again and reeled off three straight games to put the championship on his racket at 6-5. Yet again, the big man wouldn't go quietly, broke serve and forced a tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, Delpo finally seemed to run out of juice and put up little resistance while Nadal stepped up his game and swept the breaker, seven points to zero, sealing it with a forehand winner and giving his country its fifth Davis Cup title since 2000.
On one hand, Nadal deserves a ton of credit. He clearly did not play his best match Sunday, but he hung in there to give himself a chance and take advantage of any openings Delpo offered. For much of the match, he was not in the driver's seat to win, an inconceivable concept in a best-of-five match on clay in Spain. In the end, his experience and gritty nature helped him get the better of a dangerous opponent, just as David Ferrer did on Friday.
On the other hand, what a disappointing weekend this has been for del Potro. He truly gave everything he had in both matches, reminding us why he reached number 4 in the world two years ago. Delpo did not drop the ball here, but rather got outpunched by two more experienced and notoriously tenacious competitors. Still, these are two devastating losses for the big man, who was reduced to tears after both defeats. Both of those matches could have easily gone the other way, giving Argentina a 3-1 victory.
Whew! What a ride. The tension in the arena grew exponentially as the momentum seemed to shift every few minutes. The chair umpire even issued a warning to the fans for refusing to quiet down when the players were ready to resume. The scoreline makes it look like a more comprehensive victory for Spain than what played out on the courts, because it was never clear that the fifth rubber wouldn't be necessary until Nadal had the 5-0 lead in the tiebreak. Who knows what could have happened if Ferrer had to square off against Nalbandian. Sheesh.
Now the what-ifs. Delpo's efforts were nothing short of heroic, but why did Tito Vazquez put Juan Monaco in singles instead of David Nalbandian? I'm not sure it would have made a difference, but I have to think Nalby would have put up a tougher fight than what Monaco was able to achieve. Even if Nalby hadn't won, perhaps he could have worn down Nadal enough that he'd have less in the tank to face Delpo. It seems a shame that Nalby never got the opportunity to put the tie on his racket alone, despite his terrific play in doubles. There's no way Monaco would have player Ferrer in a live fifth rubber, so why not slate Nalby for singles and Monaco or Chela for doubles? Eh, who knows.
In any case, what a great end to the season. Both sides were extraordinary, but in the end, the tie swung in favor of the team with the two top-five singles players who have still yet to lose a Davis Cup rubber on clay throughout their careers. This was a great way for Nadal to rebound from a disappointing ATP finals performance and it's icing on the cake of a terrific year for the underrated Ferrer. Again the Davis Cup ends in disappointment for Argentina but if there's a silver lining here, it's that Delpo played really well and looks to be on the cusp of reclaiming his rightful place among the top ten in the world. Remember, that he started the season ranked outside the top 400 in the world and finished at number 11. Here's hoping the man stays healthy. It's been a long road back, and he's almost there.
Meanwhile, Nadal has already announced that he won't be playing the competition in 2012 because he wants to focus on the Olympics in London. Ferrer also made comments hinting that the no one in current line-up will be available next year for the same reasons, saying that it will be difficult to get them all on the team again. (That, and the fact that Albert Costa would have to be pretty desperate to name the struggling Verdasco to the team anyway, IMHO).
Nicolas Almagro, come on down.
Until 2012!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Davis Cup, Day 2
Here's what we know:
David Nalbandian, who is prepared to lead his underdog team to a Davis Cup title by sheer force of will, is a fierce competitor and still one hell of a player, rankings be damned.
Albert Costa would have to be off his rocker if he slates Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco to play doubles in Davis Cup ever again. He might also be nuts if he continues to put Verdasco on the team at all.
Fernando Verdasco has no mojo left and he is quickly regressing into a terrific talent but a miserable headcase.
All that to say that Argentina took advantage of some truly awful play by the experienced Spaniards to take the doubles point in straight sets. Not to diminish the Argentines, however. Nalbandian and Schwank played really well, calmly shooting down any opening the Spaniards had and relentlessly exposing their weaknesses.
Seriously, unless something changes dramatically, Saturday may have been the last time the Spanish BFFs ever play a Davis Cup doubles match together. They had absolutely no rhythm and their strategy, assuming they had one, was all over the place. It was one thing that they had such a tough time in the semifinals in Cordoba. But to do it again in the finals? Fool me once...
It's not like Spain has an obvious doubles pairing on deck, but they clearly need to try something else. Verdasco, much as it pains me to say it, has worn out his usefulness for the team. He has zero confidence. You can't use him in singles and he's lost the last three Davis Cup doubles rubbers with two different partners. Lopez' form is better, so I'd keep him around. But maybe you pair him with Marcel Granollers. Oh, and lest we forget, Spain has another perfectly decent player in Nicolas Almagro. Why Costa hasn't given him a chance to play after the year he's had baffles me. Even Nadal is a better doubles player than anyone else Spain fields, but he understandably needs to be saved for singles.
On that note, it falls to Nadal to be the hero and clinch the tie for Spain. Del Potro meanwhile is tasked with keeping Argentina alive and giving Nalbandian a chance to win the title he so desperately covets. (I write that assuming that Nalbandian will replace Monaco to go against Ferrer, if there is a live fifth rubber).
I've already made my position known on this. I think the doubles win for Argentina is just delaying the inevitable. For all the talk about Nadal's supposed fatigue, he showed no signs of it on Friday. He did the same thing after losing the US Open finals against Djokovic: He immediately went to Cordoba and dominated both of his matches to give Spain a pass into the finals. I don't think tomorrow will be any different. DelPo is Argentina's best chance to trouble Nadal. But if the weeks of rest didn't afford the big man enough energy to pull out the grinder against Ferrer, I cannot imagine that he'll have enough in the tank to go toe-to-toe with Nadal after one day to recuperate. Plus, Nadal only spent two hours on court in thrashing Monaco. I take Nadal in straight sets to give Spain yet another Davis Cup title.
But let's say for the sake of conversation that I'm wrong and delPo pulls off the upset. Then we'll have Ferrer and Nalbandian. After the Spainard curses his teammates for making him have to play again, I see another tough match in his future, but still ends GSM in the Spaniard's favor. Nalby will be no slouch, but I don't think the former World No. 3 has enough match play to hold up against Ferrer. The obvious ex-factor will be if Nalby can keep Iron Man out there long enough that his batteries run down. Maybe. But I'm not sure I've ever seen Ferrer lose a match simply because he was tired. I think the longer the match goes, the more it favors Ferrer, not Nalby. Still, anything can happen in a for-all-the-marbles match and it would be fun to watch--if it got to that point, which it won't.
David Nalbandian, who is prepared to lead his underdog team to a Davis Cup title by sheer force of will, is a fierce competitor and still one hell of a player, rankings be damned.
Albert Costa would have to be off his rocker if he slates Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco to play doubles in Davis Cup ever again. He might also be nuts if he continues to put Verdasco on the team at all.
Fernando Verdasco has no mojo left and he is quickly regressing into a terrific talent but a miserable headcase.
All that to say that Argentina took advantage of some truly awful play by the experienced Spaniards to take the doubles point in straight sets. Not to diminish the Argentines, however. Nalbandian and Schwank played really well, calmly shooting down any opening the Spaniards had and relentlessly exposing their weaknesses.
Seriously, unless something changes dramatically, Saturday may have been the last time the Spanish BFFs ever play a Davis Cup doubles match together. They had absolutely no rhythm and their strategy, assuming they had one, was all over the place. It was one thing that they had such a tough time in the semifinals in Cordoba. But to do it again in the finals? Fool me once...
It's not like Spain has an obvious doubles pairing on deck, but they clearly need to try something else. Verdasco, much as it pains me to say it, has worn out his usefulness for the team. He has zero confidence. You can't use him in singles and he's lost the last three Davis Cup doubles rubbers with two different partners. Lopez' form is better, so I'd keep him around. But maybe you pair him with Marcel Granollers. Oh, and lest we forget, Spain has another perfectly decent player in Nicolas Almagro. Why Costa hasn't given him a chance to play after the year he's had baffles me. Even Nadal is a better doubles player than anyone else Spain fields, but he understandably needs to be saved for singles.
On that note, it falls to Nadal to be the hero and clinch the tie for Spain. Del Potro meanwhile is tasked with keeping Argentina alive and giving Nalbandian a chance to win the title he so desperately covets. (I write that assuming that Nalbandian will replace Monaco to go against Ferrer, if there is a live fifth rubber).
I've already made my position known on this. I think the doubles win for Argentina is just delaying the inevitable. For all the talk about Nadal's supposed fatigue, he showed no signs of it on Friday. He did the same thing after losing the US Open finals against Djokovic: He immediately went to Cordoba and dominated both of his matches to give Spain a pass into the finals. I don't think tomorrow will be any different. DelPo is Argentina's best chance to trouble Nadal. But if the weeks of rest didn't afford the big man enough energy to pull out the grinder against Ferrer, I cannot imagine that he'll have enough in the tank to go toe-to-toe with Nadal after one day to recuperate. Plus, Nadal only spent two hours on court in thrashing Monaco. I take Nadal in straight sets to give Spain yet another Davis Cup title.
But let's say for the sake of conversation that I'm wrong and delPo pulls off the upset. Then we'll have Ferrer and Nalbandian. After the Spainard curses his teammates for making him have to play again, I see another tough match in his future, but still ends GSM in the Spaniard's favor. Nalby will be no slouch, but I don't think the former World No. 3 has enough match play to hold up against Ferrer. The obvious ex-factor will be if Nalby can keep Iron Man out there long enough that his batteries run down. Maybe. But I'm not sure I've ever seen Ferrer lose a match simply because he was tired. I think the longer the match goes, the more it favors Ferrer, not Nalby. Still, anything can happen in a for-all-the-marbles match and it would be fun to watch--if it got to that point, which it won't.
Davis Cup , Day 1
Wow, what a great day of tennis in Seville on Friday, which ended with home favorites Spain taking a crucial 2-0 lead over Argentina. It's not just the 0-2 deficit, but the way Argentina went down that makes it highly improbable the visitors can come back to win the tie.
There was very little surprise in the first rubber, as Rafael Nadal creamed his buddy Juan Monaco, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2. Poor Monaco never had a chance from the moment the draw was announced and the King of Clay made it clear from the get-go. There were several amazing, entertaining points that predictably went in Nadal's favor and Monaco wondering, "What do I have to do to win even a point against this guy?" I do not think that Argentina could have fielded anyone that would have accomplished anything against Nadal, but it was hard to watch this and not feel that Argentina kind of threw Monaco to the dogs.
But as expected, Ferrer v. del Potro was considerably more complicated. The two treated the crowd to a long, grinding, topsy-turvy contest with so many momentum swings that it was never clear who was going to win until the last 20 minutes. But in the end, scrappy Ferrer pulled out a 6-2, 6-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory in 4 hours and 45 minutes, leaving del Potro dejected, exhausted and in tears.
When Ferrer went down two sets to one, it was not looking good. His strategy of pounding delPo's backhand wasn't working nearly as well and delPo started unleashing on his forehand. But Ferrer toughed out the fourth set after delPo hit two forehand errors and double faulted on set point, then raced to a 5-1 lead in the fifth set while delPo clearly succumbed to fatigue. Delpo broke back to force Ferrer to serve for the match again a 5-3, but Ferrer shut the door with a forehand winner on match point and collapsed to his knees in delight.
I have to say, Ferrer never fails to amaze. I'm going start calling him Iron Man. I predicted that this match would go the distance and picked delPo to pull it out because of the bigger groundstrokes that were getting the better of Ferrer in sets two and three. But the man just doesn't give up. I thought that the longer the match went, the more it would favor delPo because he hasn't played nearly as much. But Ferrer is indefatigable. No matter how tired he says he is afterwards, he will fight until the death. He's the most underrated player in the top 10, IMHO.
This is best start Spain could have hoped for, but it's certainly not a foregone conclusion that Spain will wrap this up on Saturday. As strong as their singles players are, their doubles team is particularly vulnerable and Verdasco stands out as the weakest link. In the semifinals against France, Lopez/Verdasco played an awful match where both were making uncharacteristic mistakes and the teammates stopped speaking in between the points for a time.
I think if the Spaniards can step up their form, they can win this match in four sets. But stepping up your form when you haven't been playing well is very difficult, and it's particularly challenging if your partner is also struggling. This is Argentina's best chance to get into this tie, because delPo has even less of a chance to beat Nadal tomorrow after being dragged through a nearly five hour match. I'm going to be bold and call Argentina for a win today, mainly because I feel confidence will fail the Spaniards just enough to give the Argentines opportunity. I do not think Lopez/Verdasco have the rhythm and flow they need to pull this out. However, I think Argentina is simply delaying the inevitable because Nadal, who spent just over two hours on court Friday, ain't losing to anyone on court on Sunday.
There was very little surprise in the first rubber, as Rafael Nadal creamed his buddy Juan Monaco, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2. Poor Monaco never had a chance from the moment the draw was announced and the King of Clay made it clear from the get-go. There were several amazing, entertaining points that predictably went in Nadal's favor and Monaco wondering, "What do I have to do to win even a point against this guy?" I do not think that Argentina could have fielded anyone that would have accomplished anything against Nadal, but it was hard to watch this and not feel that Argentina kind of threw Monaco to the dogs.
But as expected, Ferrer v. del Potro was considerably more complicated. The two treated the crowd to a long, grinding, topsy-turvy contest with so many momentum swings that it was never clear who was going to win until the last 20 minutes. But in the end, scrappy Ferrer pulled out a 6-2, 6-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory in 4 hours and 45 minutes, leaving del Potro dejected, exhausted and in tears.
When Ferrer went down two sets to one, it was not looking good. His strategy of pounding delPo's backhand wasn't working nearly as well and delPo started unleashing on his forehand. But Ferrer toughed out the fourth set after delPo hit two forehand errors and double faulted on set point, then raced to a 5-1 lead in the fifth set while delPo clearly succumbed to fatigue. Delpo broke back to force Ferrer to serve for the match again a 5-3, but Ferrer shut the door with a forehand winner on match point and collapsed to his knees in delight.
I have to say, Ferrer never fails to amaze. I'm going start calling him Iron Man. I predicted that this match would go the distance and picked delPo to pull it out because of the bigger groundstrokes that were getting the better of Ferrer in sets two and three. But the man just doesn't give up. I thought that the longer the match went, the more it would favor delPo because he hasn't played nearly as much. But Ferrer is indefatigable. No matter how tired he says he is afterwards, he will fight until the death. He's the most underrated player in the top 10, IMHO.
This is best start Spain could have hoped for, but it's certainly not a foregone conclusion that Spain will wrap this up on Saturday. As strong as their singles players are, their doubles team is particularly vulnerable and Verdasco stands out as the weakest link. In the semifinals against France, Lopez/Verdasco played an awful match where both were making uncharacteristic mistakes and the teammates stopped speaking in between the points for a time.
I think if the Spaniards can step up their form, they can win this match in four sets. But stepping up your form when you haven't been playing well is very difficult, and it's particularly challenging if your partner is also struggling. This is Argentina's best chance to get into this tie, because delPo has even less of a chance to beat Nadal tomorrow after being dragged through a nearly five hour match. I'm going to be bold and call Argentina for a win today, mainly because I feel confidence will fail the Spaniards just enough to give the Argentines opportunity. I do not think Lopez/Verdasco have the rhythm and flow they need to pull this out. However, I think Argentina is simply delaying the inevitable because Nadal, who spent just over two hours on court Friday, ain't losing to anyone on court on Sunday.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Davis Cup preview
The finale to the 2011 ATP season is upon us, as Spain and Argentina face off in Seville for the Davis Cup title. In a rematch of the 2008 final, Spain is looking to capture its fifth title since 2000 while perennial bridesmaids Argentina look to capture its first title after falling in the finals three times.
Much has been made of the fact that the last time these two squared off, Spain upset Argentina in Mar del Plata even without Rafael Nadal. As well as the Spaniards stepped up in a difficult situation, the Argentines have admitted that bitter internal strife contributed to their disappointing effort. The Spaniards still relish winning the title on Argentina's turf, and it's not a stretch to believe that the Argentines, with 2008 team members David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro, would love nothing more than to return the favor.
Home team Spain must be considered the favorites mostly because they are led by Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer, both of whom are undefeated in Davis Cup on clay. BFF's Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco will team up for doubles. But Argentina, led by 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, will not be a pushover. I could definitely see this tie coming down to the fifth rubber. Here are the line-ups, which were announced on Thursday.
1: Nadal v. Juan Monaco
2: Ferrer v. del Potro
3: Lopez/Verdasco v. Nalbandian/Schwank
4: Nadal v. del Potro
5: Ferrer v. Monaco
Captain Tito Vazquez' choice to use the in-form Monaco in singles instead of the declining but experienced Nalbandian certainly surprised me. But many feel that if the tie comes down to the final match, Nalbandian will take Monaco's place against Ferrer.
In any case, as well as Monaco has played in the last few months, I cannot see him having much of a chance against Nadal on clay in a best of five. Certainly, there are no sure things in Davis Cup but we're talking about the most accomplished clay court player ever to pick up a racquet. Even a fatigued Nadal can beat just about anyone on clay, anytime. Point to Spain.
After that, it gets very complicated. The always underrated Ferrer is best on clay, as the long, grinding points suit his style perfectly. After sitting out the first round against Belgium with an injury, Ferrer stepped up to give the team two points in singles against the USA and an impressive win over France's Gilles Simon in the semifinals. But lest we forget, delPo is a former 2009 French Open semifinalist. He's a bigger guy with a bigger serve and harder groundstrokes than the scrappy Spaniard. Both will be extremely motivated so that match will be a battle of wills. Ferrer has had the better year but could be somewhat fatigued after a long week in London. Delpo has not played a competitive match in several weeks, choosing to focus his energies on this tie, so he may be physically fresher but slightly out of practice. That match will be very close but I'm going to be bold and tip delPo to win in five (with the caveat that Ferrer winning would not surprise me in the slightest). Point to Argentina.
In any case, I think Argentina should be thrilled if they go to sleep 1-1 on Day 1, because this doubles match is wide open. Lopez/Verdasco are a formidable team but the shellacking they took in the semifinals at the hands of Tsonga and Llodra cannot be overlooked. As that match demonstrated, they can either be really good or really bad. Both Spaniards tend to lose focus mentally when things aren't going their way, which is problematic in singles and catastrophic in doubles. Nalbandian and Schwank have never played together but both have stellar doubles records in Davis Cup. If the Spaniards show the same form that saw them clinch the doubles point in 2008 and 2009, then I like their chances. But this could be a great opportunity for the Argentines to take advantage of a decent team whose recent form leaves a lot to be desired. I cannot predict the outcome on this one.
If we get to Nadal v. del Potro, that will be exciting. Nadal's high bounces and spin don't bother the 6'6" Argentine as much as other players, but I still don't see delPo winning this. Nadal in four sets. Point to Spain.
If there is a fifth rubber and it is Ferrer v. Monaco, then that's an easy choice: Ferrer gets to be the hero and finish a great year on an unbelievable high. But I cannot imagine that Tito Vazquez would pin the country's hopes on Monaco, despite his good form and recent win over the Spaniard. I have to think he'd bring in Nalbandian, himself a former French Open semifinalist. Nevertheless I still don't see Argentina getting that point. Experience counts in these situations, which is why Nalbandian could be the better choice, but form matters, too, and I think Ferrer's relentlessness will wear down Nalbandian. Point to Spain.
This tie could easily end 3-2, but in the best of situations, I don't see Argentina getting three points here. I can see delPo edging Ferrer and the Argentines winning doubles, but I don't see anyone getting a point against Rafa, nor do I see Monaco or Nalbandian beating Ferrer in a decider. Rafa may not have had the best year, is admittedly tired and has taken some gut checks to his confidence. But you know what? Competing with your teammates on the sidelines is a different deal and with all due respect to the Argentines, it's not Djokovic on the other side of the net.
My prediction: Spain wins its fifth title, 3-1.
Much has been made of the fact that the last time these two squared off, Spain upset Argentina in Mar del Plata even without Rafael Nadal. As well as the Spaniards stepped up in a difficult situation, the Argentines have admitted that bitter internal strife contributed to their disappointing effort. The Spaniards still relish winning the title on Argentina's turf, and it's not a stretch to believe that the Argentines, with 2008 team members David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro, would love nothing more than to return the favor.
Home team Spain must be considered the favorites mostly because they are led by Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer, both of whom are undefeated in Davis Cup on clay. BFF's Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco will team up for doubles. But Argentina, led by 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, will not be a pushover. I could definitely see this tie coming down to the fifth rubber. Here are the line-ups, which were announced on Thursday.
1: Nadal v. Juan Monaco
2: Ferrer v. del Potro
3: Lopez/Verdasco v. Nalbandian/Schwank
4: Nadal v. del Potro
5: Ferrer v. Monaco
Captain Tito Vazquez' choice to use the in-form Monaco in singles instead of the declining but experienced Nalbandian certainly surprised me. But many feel that if the tie comes down to the final match, Nalbandian will take Monaco's place against Ferrer.
In any case, as well as Monaco has played in the last few months, I cannot see him having much of a chance against Nadal on clay in a best of five. Certainly, there are no sure things in Davis Cup but we're talking about the most accomplished clay court player ever to pick up a racquet. Even a fatigued Nadal can beat just about anyone on clay, anytime. Point to Spain.
After that, it gets very complicated. The always underrated Ferrer is best on clay, as the long, grinding points suit his style perfectly. After sitting out the first round against Belgium with an injury, Ferrer stepped up to give the team two points in singles against the USA and an impressive win over France's Gilles Simon in the semifinals. But lest we forget, delPo is a former 2009 French Open semifinalist. He's a bigger guy with a bigger serve and harder groundstrokes than the scrappy Spaniard. Both will be extremely motivated so that match will be a battle of wills. Ferrer has had the better year but could be somewhat fatigued after a long week in London. Delpo has not played a competitive match in several weeks, choosing to focus his energies on this tie, so he may be physically fresher but slightly out of practice. That match will be very close but I'm going to be bold and tip delPo to win in five (with the caveat that Ferrer winning would not surprise me in the slightest). Point to Argentina.
In any case, I think Argentina should be thrilled if they go to sleep 1-1 on Day 1, because this doubles match is wide open. Lopez/Verdasco are a formidable team but the shellacking they took in the semifinals at the hands of Tsonga and Llodra cannot be overlooked. As that match demonstrated, they can either be really good or really bad. Both Spaniards tend to lose focus mentally when things aren't going their way, which is problematic in singles and catastrophic in doubles. Nalbandian and Schwank have never played together but both have stellar doubles records in Davis Cup. If the Spaniards show the same form that saw them clinch the doubles point in 2008 and 2009, then I like their chances. But this could be a great opportunity for the Argentines to take advantage of a decent team whose recent form leaves a lot to be desired. I cannot predict the outcome on this one.
If we get to Nadal v. del Potro, that will be exciting. Nadal's high bounces and spin don't bother the 6'6" Argentine as much as other players, but I still don't see delPo winning this. Nadal in four sets. Point to Spain.
If there is a fifth rubber and it is Ferrer v. Monaco, then that's an easy choice: Ferrer gets to be the hero and finish a great year on an unbelievable high. But I cannot imagine that Tito Vazquez would pin the country's hopes on Monaco, despite his good form and recent win over the Spaniard. I have to think he'd bring in Nalbandian, himself a former French Open semifinalist. Nevertheless I still don't see Argentina getting that point. Experience counts in these situations, which is why Nalbandian could be the better choice, but form matters, too, and I think Ferrer's relentlessness will wear down Nalbandian. Point to Spain.
This tie could easily end 3-2, but in the best of situations, I don't see Argentina getting three points here. I can see delPo edging Ferrer and the Argentines winning doubles, but I don't see anyone getting a point against Rafa, nor do I see Monaco or Nalbandian beating Ferrer in a decider. Rafa may not have had the best year, is admittedly tired and has taken some gut checks to his confidence. But you know what? Competing with your teammates on the sidelines is a different deal and with all due respect to the Argentines, it's not Djokovic on the other side of the net.
My prediction: Spain wins its fifth title, 3-1.
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