Dutch Opt for Sluiter Instead of Schalken
The draw for the Spain v Netherlands Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Quarterfinal
in Mallorca has now been made, and is as follows:
Carlos MOYA (ESP) v Martin VERKERK (NED)
Juan Carlos FERRERO (ESP) v Raemon SLUITER (NED)
Rafael NADAL/Tommy ROBREDO (ESP) v John VAN LOTTUM/Martin VERKERK (NED)
Juan Carlos FERRERO (ESP) v Martin VERKERK (NED)
Carlos MOYA (ESP) v Raemon SLUITER (NED)
This weekend Spain and the Netherlands go head-to-head in the quarterfinals of
Davis Cup by BNP Paribas, in Mallorca. The two nations are playing each other
for the eighth time in a history that dates back to their first clash in 1923.
This year marks Spain’s twentieth year in the World Group, while for the
Netherlands it is the fourteenth. But despite their consistent appearances,
between them they have only one Davis Cup title, in 2000 when Spain triumphed
over Australia. With this history in mind, the tie is set to be one of the
toughest quarterfinal clashes in this round, with both nations hungry to push
on to the semifinals and beyond.
The host nation has laid their favourite red clay surface in the Plaza de
Toros "Coliseo", a stadium most famous for its bullfights. Built in 1906, the
open air, coliseum-like stadium holds around 8,000 spectators on its concrete
steps and is set in Mallorca’s capital, Palma. Palma is a lively
cosmopolitan city in true Spanish tradition and despite the invasion of
foreign tourists it has kept its local flavour.
For Nadal and fellow Majorcan Moya, Palma is no doubt a special place, but
the Bull Ring in Palma also holds sentimental value for Ferrero who won his
first ATP tournament – the Mallorca Open here in 1999. “It’s great to be
back, it brings back some special memories, winning my first ATP title here
was special. Obviously I am keen to enjoy similar success this time around with
the team.”
Spain have a 5-2 lead over the Dutch in clashes to date and are going in to
the tie as favourites having recalled big guns Juan Carlos Ferrero and
Carlos Moya. Ferrero and Moya both missed Spain's opening round win over the
Czech Republic through injury, but were successfully replaced by 17-year-old
Rafael Nadal and Feliciano Lopez. Nadal, who was the hero of the tie after
scoring victory in the decisive rubber has kept his place, but Lopez and
Alberto Martin have had to make way for the return of Ferrero and Moya,
who are currently ranked No. 3 and No. 7 in the world respectively.
Despite Spain’s superiority over the Netherlands on paper, the Dutch side
still has good reason to go into the tie with confidence as Netherlands has
won the last two clashes against the Spanish team. The most recent and the
most painful came in 2001 when the Netherlands knocked the then-defending
champions out in the first round. The visiting nation is without Davis Cup
veteran Paul Haarhuis, who retired from tennis after injuring his shoulder in
the first round, but it has opened the door for John Van Lottum to step back
on the doubles court with Martin Verkerk. The Netherlands are an experienced
Davis Cup side, with Sjeng Schalken and Martin Verkerk ranked in the top 20,
and Sluiter who seems to raise his game in Davis Cup.
The weekend opens with 1998 Roland Garros winner Moya, playing Verkerk
followed by reigning Roland Garros champion Ferrero taking on Sluiter.
The doubles rubber on the Saturday has Robredo and Nadal facing Verkerk and
Lottum. The final day’s reverse singles pits Ferrero against Verkerk first up,
with Moya and Sluiter rounding off the tie.
Dutch Captain, Tjerk Bogtstra commented on his some what surprise decision
not to play his top ranked player Schalken in the singles rubbers and alluded
to the fact that there may be more changes to come from the Dutch team.
“Sjeng is not really to play tomorrow so that is actually the biggest reason
to let Raemon. I am looking forward to it because Raemon has a lot of
confidence, he has already played against Ferrero a few times and he knows
the player well.”
“Sjeng is not injured, he just feels that his game is not ready yet to play
at his highest level which is needed to be good enough against these guys. We
talked this week and I saw in his practice that he hasn’t reached this level
yet, but maybe he does on Sunday, maybe we can change some things.”
Asked of the chances of Dutch victory Tjerk responded, ”We have to do
something very special and special means that we have to play a little bit
above our level. We all know that Spain has the best clay court players
in the world. We are the underdogs and that is a good feeling, we have
nothing to lose here.”
Ferrero, who has missed this year’s two opening ATP Masters tournaments with
chickenpox has cast aside fears that he may not be ready for the tie
“I’ve been training hard for the past two weeks and I feel good, the
courts here in Palma feel good and I feel good physically. I am ready for
this tie and hope I can help the team.”
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