The draw is out for next year's Davis Cup. And it's not exactly a good or easy one for Argentina... They've been drawn in the top, i.e. Spain's half, which looks like this (* = home team):
Spain*
Switzerland
Germany
France*
Russia*
India
Argentina
Sweden*
So next year's Davis Cup campaign will start with a trip to Sweden and chances are that David's first Davis Cup match after his comeback will be against the Swedish #1 - Söderling. The same Robin Söderling David beat in that epic five-set Davis Cup quarterfinal match in 2008, the very match that played a decisive role in aggravating his hip injury.
But Sweden isn't the only team close to Argentina in the draw that they have faced in recent years. If Argentina get through to the quarterfinal, their opponents could very well be Russia - again. (They've played Russia four times over the last seven years.) Just like in the first round, this would be an away tie for the Argentine team. And then, in a theoretical semifinal, possibly another encounter with Spain (and yet another away tie)...
In short - it's a really tough draw. I don't know whether David was listening to the radio broadcast but if he was I'm sure he cannot have been too happy about what he heard. One thing is clear, though. If Argentina want to stand any chance of getting through a draw like this one, with its series of strong opponents and away ties, then David and Delpo will have to work together as team. And they'll have to prove that everything now really is okay between the two of them.
The first-round ties will be played March 5-7, 2010.
10 comments:
Well, let's hope... with David back to full fitness, and the new improved Delpo, the team would be ready to take on anybody.
I think it's a decent draw, I mean when you take into account the possibilities. Not an easy draw, but not the most difficult either.
Yeah, that would surely be meaningful, wouldn't it - playing against Soderling, after that epic match they played against each other.
Not knowing what David's form is like right now, I don't really know what to expect. I don't think I would expect him to beat Soderling though. I don't really know the strength of the new Swedish doubles team, now that Bjorkman isn't in it though I'd guess that they're still better than Argentina's.
But I still think that it is a very possible victory for the Argentines given that Sweden rely heavily on Soderling, now that Johansson has retired. Their second singles player is Vinciguerra, who did do surprisingly well against Israel but I still wouldn't expect much from him.
What a strong start for a first round...it's very dangerous tie for a beginning..hope David will be OK . By the way, is he arrived in Barcelona ?
That's tough but nothing is impossible. Too bad, I like Russia too :(
I agree with Krystle, it could have been worse. I think whoever they had been drawn against, how well David has recovered is likely to be crucial to the result.
Well, I think that playing what could be three away ties in a row will be tough. And should they reach semis, they could face Spain in Spain. And it doesn't get much more difficult than that, I think...
I just find it a bit frustrating that Argentina always seem to draw the "same old countries"... (And I like the Russians too. ;)
Sweden will rely mostly on Söderling, that's true. But even without Björkman they still have good doubles players in Aspelin and Lindstedt. Good enough to beat any Argentine doubles team. So I think it could be a tricky tie. At least, David will get to play his first DC tie after the pause indoors.
Tennisace, I don't know whether David has arrived at Barcelona yet. I guess he should probably be there by now but I'm not sure.
- I've just had a look at the first reactions in Argentina. The AAT isn't happy with the draw at all and Vázquez calls it "a very tough draw, very difficult". Well, if David and Delpo are both fit and hopefully find a way of not just going out there and playing their matches but also talking to each other... they should be ready to take on just about anybody. :)
I forgot to tell you about a new David video on You tube, it seems he's at a kind of horses exh?? or something like that ???? He's with some friends and they have their picture with a horse...
Thanks for the hint. :)
I think this new clip was filmed at the same horse show as the previous one from cordobanoticiasweb.com. And he says that he doesn't just like rally and cars, he likes horses as well and that went to that show with a friend. (He's friends with a couple of Argentine polo players.) Apart from that, it's pretty much the usual questions about his recovery and the usual replies. Though he keeps saying that he's still far from being able to play matches again... But that it's all going well.
Hi everyone!!
I'm SO happy!! David it's now in Barcelona and... guess what? David will returne in december!!! He will play the Argentinian Cup exhibition!!
Here I leave some links about this (in spanish):
http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2009/09/23/tenis/02005403.html
http://www.canchallena.com/1178482-nalbandian-jugara-la-copa-argentina-de-tenis-a-fin-de-ano
:D :D :D
Great news, Tamar! Thanks! :D
New post on the way...
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