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TENNIS: SPAIN FINALLY EMBRACES THE DAVIS CUP It has taken 101 years for one of the strongest nations, if not the best, to finally achieve what is considered to be the team tennis world championship.  After a nerve-racking wait, Spain has won the Davis Cup for the first time ever by beating Australia, one of the most powerful tennis nations that has totted up a double-figure number of wins, many of which were achieved in the 50s and 60s.  The fact that the final was decided by this unusual challenge does nothing to detract from the fascination and prestige of this competition, which, as time goes by and with the advent of modern tennis, is increasingly restricted and snubbed by the best athletes. In fact, the patriotism with which Corretja, Albert Costa, Ferrero and the doubles player Balcells aroused enthusiasm in the local crowd is undoubtedly one of the positive aspects of an event that can still kindle great passion amongst those that had been waiting for this moment for years. Let’s get one thing straight.  It wasn’t that Australia wasn’t keen on winning.  It’s just that whilst the Spaniards did everything in their power to win, from choosing the playing surface to choosing the balls, the Ozies had to do without Philippoussis due to internal squabbles whilst a doubles player of the calibre of Woodbridge decided to stay behind as his wife was due to have their first baby. And the collapse of the Australian team found fertile ground when Pat Rafters, the number one seed that was in bad shape, was forced to retire during the second match on the first day when his team was 1-0 up. Against all the odds, Spain spared the defending champions from prolonged agony by winning the doubles and going on to win the teenage dual between Ferrer and Hewitt. A decisive match between Rafter with his half serve or one of the two Ozie doubles players (Stolle-Woodforde) who are disastrous on a red surface simply doesn’t bear thinking about. What was already a bedlam and a living inferno, thanks to the appalling behaviour of Barcelona supporters, would have degenerated into an authentic corrida and then almost certainly into crucifixion for captain Newcombe and this team. Thus, Spain triumphs on its favourite red playing surface, a surface that has produced an endless succession of formidable tennis players of both sexes over the past two decades. The likes of Emilio Sanchez, Bruguera, Moya, Corretja, Costa and recently Ferrero as well as immortal female players such as Martinez and Arancia  Sanchez seemed destined to dominate the world’s most prestigious team tournament.  But whilst the ladies have won the ladies’ tournament (Federation Cup) five times, it took the men over a century to succeed. A series of divergent factors always stood between the Spaniard and the Davis Cup.  However, as soon as all the arguments had been settled by resorting to some questionable decisions (such as the unexpected choice of 4 captains, one for each player, that characterised the triumphant campaign of the year 2000), Spain managed to win first prize  under the watchful eye of King Juan Carlos. What a pity that it was a “Latin-style” victory, aided by a crowd that was way out of order in terms of noisy support.  Too much gesticulating and anti-Australian hysteria, too many unsporting remarks.  The first rule of tennis is silence and respect for the opponent.  Perhaps our neighbours would do well to watch at least one Wimbledon match in the nation were discipline was born.  On the first point, it is customary for a player to meet his opponents glance, and raise the tennis balls as if to check the opponent is ready.  The umpire then pronounces the words: “silence please, the players are ready!”. At Barcelona, a similar ritual would have been comparable to blasphemy.  If that is the case, it can’t be such a good thing that the Spanish armada regularly deserts London’s grass courts on the grounds of technical problems.  Perhaps now is the right time to send at least the supporters on a prize holiday to the temple of the sport in which they now hold one of the most prestigious trophies. Paolo Ghisoni

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