Spain vs. Kazakhstan – Davis Cup WG: Preview
Defending champion, Spain, will square off against the Kazakhstani team in the opening round at the Davis Cup 2012 on February 10th to February 12th. Both countries will face each other for the first time at the Palacio Municipal de los Deportes in Oviedo, Spain.
The Spanish giants last played at the Olympic Stadium in Seville where they overpowered Argentina with a 3-1 score line in an epic final showdown. Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer led their side up 2-0 in the first day. After the Argentinean team lowered the trail by winning the doubles, the world number two, Nadal, bagged his reverse singles match and earned the limelight. They grabbed their fifth title last year and dominated the Davis Cup for the last decade. Spain previously shelved titles in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Kazakhstan on the other end competed at this event for the first time last year. Their last tie was against Argentina in the quarter-finals at the Parque Roca in Buenos Aires. Although Kazakhs lost to the eventual runner-ups, their impressive final eight run was praised by everyone.
Spain’s captain, Alex Corretja, choose Nicolas Almagro, who enjoyed a successful 2011 season, as his first choice for the singles match. The world number 11 clinched titles at the Costa do Sauipe, Buenos Aires and Nice ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour events last year. He also reached far in several tournaments before making a last four berth at Chennai this season. The Spaniard also made a fourth round showing at the Australian Open before gearing up for this tie.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, ranked 48th in the ATP rankings, is the second man to play singles. Despite exiting from the opening rounds at the Auckland ATP and the Australian Open, he reached far in many tournaments last year. He clinched his 16th career title at the Mercedes Cup in July 2011.
Doubles specialist, Marc Lopez, will team up with Marcel Granollers for the doubles match.
The highest ranked player of the Kazakhstan squad is Mikhail Kukushkin. Ranked 61st in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Kukushkin exited from the qualifiers at the Apia Sydney International but cruised into the fourth round at the Melbourne Grand Slam. The Kazakh number one was forced to retire against Andy Murray after suffering a hip injury.
Andrey Golubev is the second pick for the singles match by the team captain Yegor Shaldunov. The 132nd ranked Kazakh, who is bidding for his maiden ATP title, reached the second round through qualifiers at the first Grand Slam event before entering the Davis Cup.
Yuriy Schukin and Evgeny Korolev completed the four-man Kazakh squad.
Spain hasn’t lost a single match at his home soil since 1999. It also comprises of 10 players who are currently ranked inside the top-50. The defending champions are hosting this tie on the clay courts and after looking at their strength, Spain is most likely to triumph against the Kazakhstani team with a 3-1 score line. Ferrero is expected to crash against the Kazakh number one. However, Almagro on the other hand will crush his opponents in his singles and reverse singles duel.
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