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**kubekniekubek** · 09-06-2008, 01:17 AM

It's Madrid! So let's see what the players do. I'm sure that Rafa and company will play.

Davis Cup - Spain overrule rebel players
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/090520...l-players.html

Davis Cup - Spain overrule rebel players

Eurosport - Fri, 09 May 20:39:00 2008

Spain's tennis federation selected Madrid's Las Ventas bullring as the site of the Davis Cup semi-final between Spain and the USA over the objections of top Spanish players, including Rafael Nadal, who prefered other locations.

Spanish players had made it clear they prefered any of the three other locations - Benidorm, Tenerife or Gijon - for their September 19-21 best-of-five series against the defending champions.

They argued that the Spanish capital's 600-metre (2,100-foot) altitude would favour the US players' faster game and accused federation president Pedro Munoz of favoring the capital city because of sponsorship money.

Earlier this week Nadal and eight other players, including Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario, David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro signed an open letter vowing not to take part in any federation event as long as Munoz is its head in protest at the likely choise of Madrid.

"Our only objective is and will always be to represent Spain under the best possible conditions," the letter said.

"It is us players who play and defend the colours of our country and we feel we are the main ones to be hurt by the decisions that have been taken," it added.

Spanish media have reported that the federation is under pressure to select Madrid as the site of the Davis Cup semi-final because the city's tourist office is a key sponsor of the event through 2010.
AFP

"Madrid chosen to host U.S.-Spain Davis Cup semis"
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/ten...ory?id=3388479

Friday, May 9, 2008
Despite Spanish team objections, Madrid to host Davis semis

ESPN.com news services

MADRID, Spain -- Rejecting pleas from its players and coach, the Spanish tennis federation chose Madrid's bullring Friday as the venue for the Davis Cup semifinal series against the United States.

The Spanish players had preferred one of the three other candidates -- Benidorm, Tenerife and Gijon -- for the Sept. 19-21 matchup against the defending champion Americans.

Rafael Nadal, the three-time French Open champion, was among eight Spanish players and captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario who signed an open letter this week denouncing the federation's process for choosing the host city.

The team said Madrid's 2,100-foot altitude will remove the team's home-court advantage and accused federation president Pedro Munoz of favoring the capital city because of sponsorship money.

The Spaniards are at their best on a slow clay surface, while the Americans -- led by hard-serving Andy Roddick -- are likely to benefit from the higher altitude speeding up play.

It's the first time in 10 years that Madrid will host a Davis Cup match.

Friday's decision was made by a secret ballot of federation board members, with Munoz abstaining, national news agency Efe reported. Madrid received nine votes, Benidorm four, Gijon two and Tenerife one.

The players -- also including fifth-ranked David Ferrer and former French Open champion Carlos Moya -- have threatened to boycott all the promotional events for the federation and its sponsors as long as Munoz remains president.

"The problem is not so much the altitude but ... at first he [Munoz] said he would adhere to the requests of the players and then he went back on his word. That is what hurt us, that he doesn't honor his promises," Sanchez Vicario told Radio Marca on Friday.

In an interview with the Spanish sports daily AS on Friday, Munoz defended himself. "They can say I didn't keep my promise but not that I lied," he said.

"I have asked them to release me from my promise because I have been advised I cannot deny the event to a city that meets the requirements stipulated," Munoz said. "It is the board who decides, not the president."

Madrid's selection came three months after the city's tourist office signed up as a key sponsor with the Davis Cup through 2010. Madrid also is bidding to host the 2016 Olympics.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this story.

09-06-2008, 01:17 AM	#24
kubekniekubek Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 701 Senior Member	It's Madrid! So let's see what the players do. I'm sure that Rafa and company will play. Davis Cup - Spain overrule rebel players http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/090520...l-players.html Davis Cup - Spain overrule rebel players Eurosport - Fri, 09 May 20:39:00 2008 Spain's tennis federation selected Madrid's Las Ventas bullring as the site of the Davis Cup semi-final between Spain and the USA over the objections of top Spanish players, including Rafael Nadal, who prefered other locations. Spanish players had made it clear they prefered any of the three other locations - Benidorm, Tenerife or Gijon - for their September 19-21 best-of-five series against the defending champions. They argued that the Spanish capital's 600-metre (2,100-foot) altitude would favour the US players' faster game and accused federation president Pedro Munoz of favoring the capital city because of sponsorship money. Earlier this week Nadal and eight other players, including Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario, David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro signed an open letter vowing not to take part in any federation event as long as Munoz is its head in protest at the likely choise of Madrid. "Our only objective is and will always be to represent Spain under the best possible conditions," the letter said. "It is us players who play and defend the colours of our country and we feel we are the main ones to be hurt by the decisions that have been taken," it added. Spanish media have reported that the federation is under pressure to select Madrid as the site of the Davis Cup semi-final because the city's tourist office is a key sponsor of the event through 2010. AFP "Madrid chosen to host U.S.-Spain Davis Cup semis" http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/ten...ory?id=3388479 Friday, May 9, 2008 Despite Spanish team objections, Madrid to host Davis semis ESPN.com news services MADRID, Spain -- Rejecting pleas from its players and coach, the Spanish tennis federation chose Madrid's bullring Friday as the venue for the Davis Cup semifinal series against the United States. The Spanish players had preferred one of the three other candidates -- Benidorm, Tenerife and Gijon -- for the Sept. 19-21 matchup against the defending champion Americans. Rafael Nadal, the three-time French Open champion, was among eight Spanish players and captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario who signed an open letter this week denouncing the federation's process for choosing the host city. The team said Madrid's 2,100-foot altitude will remove the team's home-court advantage and accused federation president Pedro Munoz of favoring the capital city because of sponsorship money. The Spaniards are at their best on a slow clay surface, while the Americans -- led by hard-serving Andy Roddick -- are likely to benefit from the higher altitude speeding up play. It's the first time in 10 years that Madrid will host a Davis Cup match. Friday's decision was made by a secret ballot of federation board members, with Munoz abstaining, national news agency Efe reported. Madrid received nine votes, Benidorm four, Gijon two and Tenerife one. The players -- also including fifth-ranked David Ferrer and former French Open champion Carlos Moya -- have threatened to boycott all the promotional events for the federation and its sponsors as long as Munoz remains president. "The problem is not so much the altitude but ... at first he [Munoz] said he would adhere to the requests of the players and then he went back on his word. That is what hurt us, that he doesn't honor his promises," Sanchez Vicario told Radio Marca on Friday. In an interview with the Spanish sports daily AS on Friday, Munoz defended himself. "They can say I didn't keep my promise but not that I lied," he said. "I have asked them to release me from my promise because I have been advised I cannot deny the event to a city that meets the requirements stipulated," Munoz said. "It is the board who decides, not the president." Madrid's selection came three months after the city's tourist office signed up as a key sponsor with the Davis Cup through 2010. Madrid also is bidding to host the 2016 Olympics. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this story.
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