[Elelaytet]

Too early for a semis thread


Ten Spanish Cities Bid To Host Davis Cup Semifinals

The 10 cities are: Barcelona, Benidom, Gijon, Jerez de la Frontera, Madrid, Malaga, Marbella, Murcia, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Santander. Each proposed venue has a capacity of at least 12,000 with four of them detailing a capacity of up to 20,000 and beyond. The highest attendance for a Davis Cup tie was set at the Spain versus USA World Group final in 2004 in Seville when the daily crowd numbered 27,200.
A short list of candidates will be drawn up by RFET. After each of the shortlisted cities has been visited, a final selection will be made on May 9. The chosen venue will be forwarded to the ITF for approval, subject to a successful site visit.



http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fulls...inewsid=549890

[kubekniekubek]

Too early for a semis thread


Ten Spanish Cities Bid To Host Davis Cup Semifinals

The 10 cities are: Barcelona, Benidom, Gijon, Jerez de la Frontera, Madrid, Malaga, Marbella, Murcia, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Santander. Each proposed venue has a capacity of at least 12,000 with four of them detailing a capacity of up to 20,000 and beyond. The highest attendance for a Davis Cup tie was set at the Spain versus USA World Group final in 2004 in Seville when the daily crowd numbered 27,200.
A short list of candidates will be drawn up by RFET. After each of the shortlisted cities has been visited, a final selection will be made on May 9. The chosen venue will be forwarded to the ITF for approval, subject to a successful site visit.



http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fulls...inewsid=549890

It's been narrowed down to 4. This means I may be going to the beach! Yipee!!!!! I'll know by May 9th!


Four Spanish cities shortlisted to host semifinalThe Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) has announced the four cities that have been shortlisted to host the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Semifinal against USA on 19-21 September.

Benidorm, Gijon, Madrid and Santa Cruz de Tenerife were announced as the four cities chosen from the initial ten cities that bid to host the tie. Barcelona, Jerez de la Frontera, Malaga, Marbella, Murcia and Santander were the unsuccessful cities.

"It's been a tough job because all the bids were magnificient and shows the enourmous interest and passion for the team across Spain. Unfortunately, we have to make a preliminary selection, but we want to encourage everyone to continue to support the team in future," said Pedro Munoz, RFET President.

The proposed venues in each of the four cities are:
Benidorm - Parque Tematico Tierra Mitica (capacity 20,000)
Gijon - Parque Hermanos Castro (16-20,000)
Madrid - Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas (23,789)
Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Estadio Olimpico Arturo Dominguez (14,700)

Each of the shortlisted cities will be visited and a final selection will be made on 9 May. The chosen venue will then be forwarded to the ITF for approval, subject to a successful site visit.

The highest attendance for a Davis Cup tie was set at the Spain v USA World Group Final in 2004 in Seville when the daily crowd numbered 27,200.

http://www.daviscup.com/news/newsart...rticleid=14613

[iH1wMOhE]

Now Munoz is threatening players and offering bribes?!


Spain Sports News
Row continues in Spanish tennis
By h.b.
May 14, 2008 - 7:29 AM

The row between the top Spanish tennis players and the games foundation in Spain, RFET, continues, following the decision to hold the Davis Cup semi-final matches in Madrid this September, against the wishes of the players who wanted to meet the Americans at sea level.

The players have complained about the President of the Spanish Tennis Federation, Pedro Muñoz, who is today in El Mundo alleged to have been putting pressure on the players by sending them and their trainers’ messages by SMS text. The paper says the messages were threatening and personal, and challenged the players with a loss of income.

Rafa Nadal has commented that after the Davis Cup decision, instead of consolatory behaviour, Muñoz has come out fighting.
Other player David Ferrer, said it was not for the players to call for a resignation, but people should know the type of president who was running the federation. http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news...le_16485.shtml

[kubekniekubek]

Goodness grief! Let's see who shows for the Spanish Davis Cup team.

[Imampaictjg]

Talk about going from bad to worse.

[iH1wMOhE]

Unsourced report on MTF is saying that he told Rafa he would be rewarded if he would side with him and bring the others along.

Wonder what he was offering him that Rafa doesn't already have?

[rowneigerie]

It's been narrowed down to 4. This means I may be going to the beach! Yipee!!!!! I'll know by May 9th!


Four Spanish cities shortlisted to host semifinalThe Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) has announced the four cities that have been shortlisted to host the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Semifinal against USA on 19-21 September.

Benidorm, Gijon, Madrid and Santa Cruz de Tenerife were announced as the four cities chosen from the initial ten cities that bid to host the tie. Barcelona, Jerez de la Frontera, Malaga, Marbella, Murcia and Santander were the unsuccessful cities.

"It's been a tough job because all the bids were magnificient and shows the enourmous interest and passion for the team across Spain. Unfortunately, we have to make a preliminary selection, but we want to encourage everyone to continue to support the team in future," said Pedro Munoz, RFET President.

The proposed venues in each of the four cities are:
Benidorm - Parque Tematico Tierra Mitica (capacity 20,000)
Gijon - Parque Hermanos Castro (16-20,000)
Madrid - Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas (23,789)
Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Estadio Olimpico Arturo Dominguez (14,700)

Each of the shortlisted cities will be visited and a final selection will be made on 9 May. The chosen venue will then be forwarded to the ITF for approval, subject to a successful site visit.

The highest attendance for a Davis Cup tie was set at the Spain v USA World Group Final in 2004 in Seville when the daily crowd numbered 27,200.

http://www.daviscup.com/news/newsart...rticleid=14613

AWw. I would have loved it if Santander won.

I hope Gijon wins the bid

I love Asturias.

Benidorm might be the only one out of the four where you might be able to visit without needing to know much, if any, Castilian Spanish. 19 percent of the population's Irish/British, according to Wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benidorm
Benidorm is particularly popular with Flemish, British and Dutch tourists. In fact, there are whole sections of the city where you will rarely hear a word of Spanish and there are pubs on every corner advertising an "authentic British menu". Benidorm's long row of skyscrapers also resemblances the Belgian coast. Because of this fact, together with the many Flemish tourists and shops, Benidorm is often called the "11th Belgian province". I really really really really hope Gijon wins the bid, though.


Asturias

[Gometesstem]

Spaniards are afraid of Americans even on clay

I find it difficult to believe...


MADRID, Spain (AP) -The selection process to determine which city will host Spain's Davis Cup semifinal series against the United States is threatening to turn into a mutiny.
The players and team captain are upset that the Spanish tennis federation appears to be ready to overlook home-court advantage in favor of sponsorship money.
Madrid is one of four cities vying to host the Sept. 19-21 best-of-five series at the Las Ventas bullring. Benidorm, Tenerife and Gijon are also trying to win the right to host the event.


The Spanish players are worried that Madrid's 1,800-foot altitude - making it the highest capital city in Europe - will take away its precious clay-court advantage against the defending champions.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24488074/

[kubekniekubek]

Spaniards are afraid of Americans even on clay

I find it difficult to believe...


MADRID, Spain (AP) -The selection process to determine which city will host Spain's Davis Cup semifinal series against the United States is threatening to turn into a mutiny.
The players and team captain are upset that the Spanish tennis federation appears to be ready to overlook home-court advantage in favor of sponsorship money.
Madrid is one of four cities vying to host the Sept. 19-21 best-of-five series at the Las Ventas bullring. Benidorm, Tenerife and Gijon are also trying to win the right to host the event.


The Spanish players are worried that Madrid's 1,800-foot altitude - making it the highest capital city in Europe - will take away its precious clay-court advantage against the defending champions.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24488074/

Whoa this is deep.

I know that they all really want to go to the beach, that's the real reason.

Seriously though, Madrid tourism is a big DC sponsor and the city would offer the biggest venue holding 23 K that's BIG BUCKS$$$$, so Madrid looks like a shoo-in.

I seriously doubt any Spanish players would boycott if/when Madrid is selected.

[RooxiaNof]

Does clay not work at altitude?

Don't forget that the Spainards can run all day but with a higher altitiude, they can be breathing heavily and that do not fit with their plans especially coming from the USO HC season where it is hot and humid.

[Sniliabiz]

Does clay not work at altitude?

This is a triviality. Gravitational force is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance from the earth's center (discarding relativistic effects). Hence on Madrilenian "clay" courts, each time the ball bounces on the ground, clay flies upward without hindrance and so slowly diminishes the number of clay particles on court. Just by itself, this would be a relatively minor problem that could be solved by watering down the courts at regular intervals. What forces the issue is the Spanish pants. If you haven't observed before, the pirate pants worn by players such as Nadal and Lopez are made of a special material that exerts an attractive force on clay particles. At sea level, this is really no problem; it only explains the Spaniards' natural pant-induced affection toward clay. But at high altitudes, the issue comes entirely into its own. The attractive force overcomes the weak gravitational force on the clay particles as well as the weight of any water particles! On players like Lopez, the clay particles forms a sort of shield around the body. On players like Nadal and Ferrer who are constantly moving at high speed, their body torques generate a centripetal force, ultimately leading to clay rings around their bodies, similar to those that form around the planet Saturn. Such body rings could cause Nadal and Ferrer to lose a couple more games than at sea level, hence the concern.

[kubekniekubek]

This is a triviality. Gravitational force is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance from the earth's center (discarding relativistic effects). Hence on Madrilenian "clay" courts, each time the ball bounces on the ground, clay flies upward without hindrance and so slowly diminishes the number of clay particles on court. Just by itself, this would be a relatively minor problem that could be solved by watering down the courts at regular intervals. What forces the issue is the Spanish pants. If you haven't observed before, the pirate pants worn by players such as Nadal and Lopez are made of a special material that exerts an attractive force on clay particles. At sea level, this is really no problem; it only explains the Spaniards' natural pant-induced affection toward clay. But at high altitudes, the issue comes entirely into its own. The attractive force overcomes the weak gravitational force on the clay particles as well as the weight of any water particles! On players like Lopez, the clay particles forms a sort of shield around the body. On players like Nadal and Ferrer who are constantly moving at high speed, their body torques generate a centripetal force, ultimately leading to clay rings around their bodies, similar to those that form around the planet Saturn. Such body rings could cause Nadal and Ferrer to lose a couple more games than at sea level, hence the concern.

OK, you sound like my brother the MIT grad.

[rozalinasi]

This is a triviality. Gravitational force is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance from the earth's center (discarding relativistic effects). Hence on Madrilenian "clay" courts, each time the ball bounces on the ground, clay flies upward without hindrance and so slowly diminishes the number of clay particles on court. Just by itself, this would be a relatively minor problem that could be solved by watering down the courts at regular intervals. What forces the issue is the Spanish pants. If you haven't observed before, the pirate pants worn by players such as Nadal and Lopez are made of a special material that exerts an attractive force on clay particles. At sea level, this is really no problem; it only explains the Spaniards' natural pant-induced affection toward clay. But at high altitudes, the issue comes entirely into its own. The attractive force overcomes the weak gravitational force on the clay particles as well as the weight of any water particles! On players like Lopez, the clay particles forms a sort of shield around the body. On players like Nadal and Ferrer who are constantly moving at high speed, their body torques generate a centripetal force, ultimately leading to clay rings around their bodies, similar to those that form around the planet Saturn. Such body rings could cause Nadal and Ferrer to lose a couple more games than at sea level, hence the concern.

You learn something new everyday!

[Elelaytet]

This is a triviality. Gravitational force is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance from the earth's center (discarding relativistic effects). Hence on Madrilenian "clay" courts, each time the ball bounces on the ground, clay flies upward without hindrance and so slowly diminishes the number of clay particles on court. Just by itself, this would be a relatively minor problem that could be solved by watering down the courts at regular intervals. What forces the issue is the Spanish pants. If you haven't observed before, the pirate pants worn by players such as Nadal and Lopez are made of a special material that exerts an attractive force on clay particles. At sea level, this is really no problem; it only explains the Spaniards' natural pant-induced affection toward clay. But at high altitudes, the issue comes entirely into its own. The attractive force overcomes the weak gravitational force on the clay particles as well as the weight of any water particles! On players like Lopez, the clay particles forms a sort of shield around the body. On players like Nadal and Ferrer who are constantly moving at high speed, their body torques generate a centripetal force, ultimately leading to clay rings around their bodies, similar to those that form around the planet Saturn. Such body rings could cause Nadal and Ferrer to lose a couple more games than at sea level, hence the concern.

I think this is my all-time favorite post on TAT

[iH1wMOhE]

This drama will soon earn it's own thread.

Spanish Davis Cup team unhappy with federation chief

Reuters, Wednesday May 7 2008

Spanish Davis Cup team unhappy with federation chiefReuters, Wednesday May 7 2008 MADRID, May 7 (Reuters) - Spain's top players have rebelled against the head of their tennis federation (RFET) Pedro Munoz in a row over the choice of venue for September's Davis Cup semi-final against the United States.
World number two Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Carlos Moya, Tommy Robredo, Nicolas Almagro, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez have all refused to do public and promotional events for the RFET while Munoz is still president.
"We feel obliged to make public our unease and disagreement with the president of the RFET and his management," the players said on Wednesday in a statement issued in Rome, where they are playing in a Masters Series event.
"We have been continually misled over decisions from the outset of his tenure."
Spanish media have reported that Madrid will be named as the venue for September's Davis Cup semi-final, although a decision has yet to be made official.
The players would reportedly prefer a venue at sea level that would be slower because the altitude in the Spanish capital would favour the big-serving U.S. team.
"This dispute isn't specifically about whether or not Madrid is the venue," the statement said.
"The players and Davis Cup team captain (Emilio Sanchez Vicario) have once again been misled, and a promise has not been kept to defend and approve the conditions established for us so as not to give our rivals an advantage.
"Also, other venues have not been given a real chance."
Spain are due to play the United States on Sept. 19-21.

(Writing by Mark Elkington; Editing by Sonia Oxley)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/feedarticle/7503054

[kubekniekubek]

I'm about to merge some of the miscellaneous news on the Spanish Davis Cup team and the choice of venues for the Davis Cup semi vs. the US.

Please bear with me.

[kubekniekubek]

Looks like Madrid. At least I can fly non stop, but I was hoping for the Canary Islands.

Friday will be the official announcement.

[Leczyslaw]

This is a triviality. Gravitational force is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance from the earth's center (discarding relativistic effects). Hence on Madrilenian "clay" courts, each time the ball bounces on the ground, clay flies upward without hindrance and so slowly diminishes the number of clay particles on court. Just by itself, this would be a relatively minor problem that could be solved by watering down the courts at regular intervals. What forces the issue is the Spanish pants. If you haven't observed before, the pirate pants worn by players such as Nadal and Lopez are made of a special material that exerts an attractive force on clay particles. At sea level, this is really no problem; it only explains the Spaniards' natural pant-induced affection toward clay. But at high altitudes, the issue comes entirely into its own. The attractive force overcomes the weak gravitational force on the clay particles as well as the weight of any water particles! On players like Lopez, the clay particles forms a sort of shield around the body. On players like Nadal and Ferrer who are constantly moving at high speed, their body torques generate a centripetal force, ultimately leading to clay rings around their bodies, similar to those that form around the planet Saturn. Such body rings could cause Nadal and Ferrer to lose a couple more games than at sea level, hence the concern.

I had to read it twice but !!

[iH1wMOhE]

Here is the Open Letter as published in Spain.(It's in Spanish) As you see all of the top eight signed it. If they go ahead with Madrid who is going to be on the team? Granollers, King Oscar and a couple of others?

http://web.lavanguardia.es/lavanguar...#37;20RFET.pdf

Oh and rabbit, no more field testing for Bea capiche?

[kubekniekubek]

Here is the Open Letter as published in Spain.(It's in Spanish) As you see all of the top eight signed it. If they go ahead with Madrid who is going to be on the team? Granollers, King Oscar and a couple of others?

http://web.lavanguardia.es/lavanguar...rta%20RFET.pdf

Oh and rabbit, no more field testing for Bea capiche?

Thanks for posting the letter.

All I know is that the tennis federation is only looking at the $$$$$.

Madrid's venue can hold 23K and Madrid tourism is one of the main DC sponsors.

Do you really think that Rafa and company would not play DC if it's in Madrid? Now that would be drama if none of "Spain's Handsome 8" played DC in September.