if that is psyching up, then I don't know what isn't...

if that is a "commitment," then I don't know what isn't...

Nadal and M.Lopez the defending I/W doubles champions will beat the Bryan Brothers anywhere, anytime , so Marc should be drafted into the team for the doubles.

Bring it on!

the Bryan Brothers would make Marc Lopez re-think his career decision to become a tennis player

Ricky, do you want a bet????

Good one nadline. That would be nice of Rafa to play 3 best of 5 matches on consecutive days.

If Rafa and his team mate can win the first two singles, then Rafa with Marc Lopez can play the doubles, leaving Ferrer, Verdasco or Feli to play the final day's singles, live or dead rubber.

numero I'm touched by your concern for Rafa's welfare. Lol

The matches may be best of 5, but Rafa will only need to play 3 sets each time, wouldn't he?

they would NEVER let M Lopez and Rafa play doubles when they've got lalo and feli. Doesn't matter - the bryans will win.

The Bryan Bros will hope it's Nando and Feli they'll face, they won't want to battle against the might of Masters Champions Nadal /M.Lopez.

Uh-oh the Spanish team is complaining about the surface already. Guess that means they know they are going to lose and are scared :

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=6391031

This is why Spain is complaining, quite legitimate IMO.

"The surface proposed by the United States Tennis Federation fraudulently infringes Davis Cup rules, since it does not meet ITF requirements and didn't host an ATP event in 2010 with prize money valued at over $350,000," federation president Jose Luis Escanuela said Tuesday.



numero, don't you think the spaniards have a point?

Why are the Spaniards scared? They can afford to lose, no problem about that. They're not the defending champions. Remember, last year they were the defending champions and saw how they were defeated 5-0 by the French on Frcnch soil? If they didn't feel embarrassed by that defeat, then why would they worry about a loss this time? Even if Rafa can win two matches ( and I strongly believe he can, vs Roddick, Fish, Isner or whoever), his team mates may lose the other three, and Spain may still lose the tie. Nothing to worry about, there's always next year!

I'm not an expert on Davis Cup but I'd be shocked if every host team strictly followed those rules. Some ties have been played in airport hangars, etc. where I have no clue what they would use for a playing surface.

I really don't see the point of specifying how much money the tournament paid out as a requirement for the surface. That's nit-picky to me.

The real issue is it's the same surface used in San Jose so only Verdasco has played on it. Remember the match with Milos? They don't want Andy, John and Mardy firing all those aces past them. It's supposed to be home-court advantage so they should be able to pick any surface.

Austin is a huge party, drinking, college town and Andy is the hometown boy. If such a thing as a belligerant DC crowd exits, it will take the cake in Austin, and I'm pretty sure Andy and Co. will whip the crowd into a frenzy. Fortunately, the Spaniards have plenty of experience with DC and when push comes to shove it's not about the crowd but the tennis. The Americans can fire aces, if that's your brand of
tennis and 2/3 sets on aces isn't hard to do, but 3/5 is going to be alot trickier. If nothing else, the American crowd might learn a little more about the GAME of tennis.

I doubt any of the Spanish players will have seen anything like Texans at a DC match. Remember Sam's Samurais in L.A? Multiply that by a thousand and add the cowboy/redneck aspect to it. Plus Andy has been known to be a bit rude so being at home he will expect everything to go his way. It's going to be great theater. They better not serve beer.

I would agree that the host should be able to pick whatever surface they want, as long as it is sanctioned by the rules.
The problem here is that this surface is so unique, the Spaniards could not build a court in which to train for the event. The Americans already have home court advantage, plus surface advantage. To pick a surface so unusual is no doubt a move designed to improve their chances even more. It seems to me they are the ones who are scared.

Yep, screw the rules, were Americans, we don't have to follow no damn rules. I'd lay odds right now that whatever tennis court the Spaniards have appealed to will be like those three silly monkeys, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. It's all about surface and location. It's the only chance they've got.

Surface, schmurface! Don't get me wrong, I do think the surface must conform to the rules... but it doesn't really matter because in the end, the Americans will be soundly defeated. Now if Jim could play...

Flatly rejected :

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=6401675

W hat a bogus claim to begin with. Who complains about a surface for Davis Cup? Guess they are afraid to lose so they risked embarassing themselves with a bogus claim like this. They look like like fools now. Just accept your beating like a man Costa.

It all depended on lobbies and Americans do have the strongest lobby so they won...but it will not help them much if Spaniards really want to win this...however, I am not sure Armada is really interested in winning this...Rafa has points to defend and he must have some rest, so I doubt he will be flying to the States at that time...and if he is not there, well, the chances are small...

Numero, are you really so cut up by the end of Roger Federer's partial dominance in the game and his continuing downfall that you are prepared to stoop so low to hit out at any Spaniard due to your jealousy of one who has a 15-8 pumelling record over TMF on all surfaces? Get over it, will you? You rants and sulking are getting tiresome.

jean,

Relax, Davis Cup is separate, it has nothing to do with Roger. Can't I cheer for the U.S. Davis Cup team? I don't need anybody's permission. In singles I don't really cheer for Andy but Davis Cup is another story. I'll be cheering for them all the way to the final, long after they beat Spain so don't worry.

At least somebody agrees with me that Spain is afraid :

http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/blog/_/name/bodo_peter/id/640895 1/spain-feeling-pressure

Feeling extremely patriotic today! That cowardly mass murderer UBL is dead! He got what he deserved : a bullet in the head! You just can't mess with TMUSA!