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9/21/09 10:03 AM | Johan Lindahl
Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga are the main venues in the running as Spain prepare to host the Czech Republic at home in the December 4-6 Davis Cup final, fifth for the nation over the past decade.
With new ITF rules coming into effect in 2010, which limit Davis Cup sites to major cities and those with international air links, it's the last chance for regional Malaga to bid for a tie.
But wherever the competition is staged, Spanish captain Alberto Costa will have a wealth of choice in picking his team.
Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco, who cheered injured from the stands in the weekend's 4-1 semifinal thrashing of Israel, are expected to be fit, adding even more complications to Costa's selection.
"The decision will be very tough," said former French Open winner Costa. "I have six, seven, eight players that could make the team." Juan Carlos Ferrero, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez led Spain over Israel.
"But they have to understand that those are the rules and I'm so happy to have these kinds of players for the final."
Costa said that choice of surface will be crucial, with Czechs Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych both dangerous on all surfaces.
Spain won the Davis Cup in Barcelona in 2000 over Australia with Lleyton Hewitt and ended the dream of Andy Roddick and the US four years later in Seville. The Spaniards traveled to Argentina last year to win it again, with Nadal missing due to a knee injury.
"Before our victory in Barcelona we had a different mentality and found it hard to play Davis Cup, but it has changed radically since then," said Costa. "Now every time we play for Spain we seem to reach a higher level."
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