Argentina vs. Romania: Davis Cup 2011 - Match preview
Argentina are set to host Romania in their first round Davis Cup World Group tie this weekend. The event is being held in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires and the matches are scheduled to be played on the outdoor clay courts of Parque Roca Tennis Centre.
The Argentine team will be represented by David Nalbandian, Juan Monaco, Juan Ignacio Chela and Eduardo Schwank.
Ranked 19th in the world, Nalbandian will lead the Argentine team. The 29-year-old made debut for his country at the Davis Cup in 2002. He has a formidable 20-5 career win/loss record at the Cup. However, he lost to French Gael Monfils in the
only Davis Cup match he played in 2010.
World number 33 Monaco will be supporting Nalbandian as the second singles player, who first represented his country at the Davis Cup in 2004. He lost to French Michael Llodra in four sets during the semi-final in 2010.
Chela, ranked 31st in the world, is the third player of the Argentine team. He won both of his Davis Cup matches he played in the previous year.
Joining them in the Argentine team is world number 122 Schwank who has a 3-6 win/loss record in 2011.
On the other hand, Romanians are led by world number 59 Victor Hanescu. The 29-year-old is a veteran of 19 ties at the Davis Cup. He won both of his matches he played for his country in 2010 at the event.
Alongside Hanescu is the 26-year-old from Pitesti, Adrian Ungur. The Romanian is ranked 45th in the ATP Rankings and this will be his 2nd year playing for his country at the world team event.
The remaining two members of the Romanian squad are Victor Crivoi and Horia Tecau. Tecau is a doubles specialist with a ranking of 16 in the ATP Doubles World Rankings.
Nalbandian will play Ungur in the opening singles on Friday whereas the second singles will be played between Monaco and Hanescu.
Chela and Schwank will take on Hanescu and Tecau in the doubles match on Saturday. The reverse singles will be played on Sunday.
Argentina are the favourite to win the tie and proceed to the quarterfinals. The hosts have superior ranked players as compared to their opponents and have the home advantage as well.
However, much depends on Nalbandian’s health as he was forced to retire from the Mexican Open recently due to health concerns.
Romanian captain Andrei Pavel said, “We know that Nalbandian has some physical problems, and that could be an advantage. And the pressure will be solely on Argentina, not on us.”
Argentina have played Romania just once before in the Davis Cup in 1981 when they came out victorious.
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