Spaniards squabble over Davis Cup site

The defending Davis Cup champion United States team will face its toughest test so far when it travels to Spain in September to play on a clay surface that will be far from the American's liking. Or will it?

A note of discord seems to be threatening to throw the Spanish squad into disarray. Spanish press is reporting a disagreement between the Spanish players and the tennis federation on where to hold the Davis Cup semifinal against the U.S. The federation favors Madrid's Las Ventas bullring, but a majority of the potential team members want to play at a location with less altitude. Madrid's 2,100-foot makes it the highest capital city in Europe, and the altitiude could take away Spain's precious clay-court advantage. Spanish sporting newspaper Marca reports Davis Cup captain Emilio Sanchez has threatened to resign over the dispute unless the players' views are considered.

Madrid is one of four cities vying to host the Sept. 19-21 best-of-five series. Benidorm, Tenerife and Gijon are also trying to win the right to host the event. Madrid’s sudden place as the front-runner comes about three months after the city’s tourist office signed up as a key sponsor with the Davis Cup through 2010.

“What I know is that as of today it hasn’t been decided where the Davis Cup semifinal will be staged,” federation sporting director Javier Duarte said. “That which has the best specifics will take the semifinal.”

The U.S. defeated Spain on the hard court in Winston-Salem, N.C., last year, but the American's last trip to Spain did not turn out well. Spain edged the U.S. 3-2 in the Davis Cup Finals in 2004 in Seville after Andy Roddick lost to Carlos Moya, pictured above, and an 18-year-old Rafeal Nadal. Moya also defeated Mardy Fish.

The Spanish players believe the altitude in Madrid will enhance Roddick’s booming serve and help the hard-hitting doubles pair of Bob and Mike Bryan. The United States holds a 5-3 lead in the series between the two nations, but Spain is 3-1 in matches played on clay. The slowest of all playing surfaces, clay is a more physical surface with its lengthier baseline rallies due to balls taking on heavier topspin.

Juan Carlos Ferrero, who was part of the Spanish team that beat the Americans in Seville nearly four years ago for the title, said problems were brewing.

“We players want this to be solved in the best way possible, but if it has to be done the worse way, then it will be,” the former top-ranked player said from the Rome Masters.

The federation will make its decision Friday, but then has several days to relay its decision to the International Tennis Federation, which is expected to announce the host city by May 13.

Three-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal will play for Spain if is healthy. He has won 103 of his last 104 matches on clay.

-- Contains wire material

Photo credit: The Associated Press/Jasper Juinen