Does anyone remember this Davis Cup dream team from 2004, when Spain, led by Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero, and a bulky teenager named Rafael Nadal--Tommy Robredo was also there, but, you know--defeated the United States in an epic tie that went to the limit, a fifth match decisive rubber on clay in the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville, Spain.Next year, in the first round of World Group play, two-time defending champ Spain--the Czech Republic will not beat them in December at home on clay, who are we kidding--will face Switzerland--at home and on clay. Most likely this tie will include a Federer-Nadal rubber, and with Ferrero back to form and Verdasco reborn as a masterful talent, we may see some spectacular play between those two giants and Stanislas Wawrinka.
The tie will take place March 5-7 in 2010. Can I persuade anyone, possibly, to travel with me to Spain to witness this thing in person? Plans are tentative at best, but I would rather watch a Spain-Swiss Davis Cup tie in Spain on clay than any match at any round in any Major. The atmosphere and energy at Davis Cup is wild, really wild. If Nadal plays Federer in the first round following a successful title defense in December, Spaniards will probably set themselves on fire before showing up to watch.
Anyway, a lot can happen between now and then--injury, ahem--but whatever the case, with these two countries competing for a quaterfinal slot, with Ferrero and Verdasco kicking ass, with Wawrinka being Wawrinka, Spain being Spain, clay being clay: wow.
In the last few weeks, Kim Clijsters and Juan Martin del Potro won the US Open, Justine Henin announced her return to tennis, Spain beat Israel to advance to the DC finals, and the 2010 DC draw came out and couldn't be better. I need to savor this swing in my favor. Such good luck has been rare and precious lately.
Slothrop: I'll be there, man. But only if you promise to flamenco with me.
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