ARTICLE French out to defy Spanish matadors
When France walk out on to the clay court at Alicante's bullring for the start of their Davis Cup semi-final against Spain on Friday they will know just how the bull feels. Spain have been untouchable on their favourite clay surface in the Davis Cup recently.
Spain won the competition with four home victories in 2000 and reaching the final with another faultless run last year.
In Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero they have Europe's best two clay-court players, ranked at eighth and 12th in the world despite disappointing individual seasons, and Tommy Robredo and Rafael Nadal provide powerful back-up.
Spanish crowds have gained a reputation for behaviour bordering on the unsporting since their run to the title in 2000 and 10,000 fans are due each day to bait the French and roar their own players on to a place in the final against the United States or Belarus.
France are without Sebastien Grosjean and Nicolas Escude, leaving Arnaud Clement, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Fabrice Santoro and Michael Llodra -- players ranked well below Spain's top two -- to carry the country's hopes.
"It's good for us that Grosjean is not playing," said Moya after practice this week. "He is their most dangerous player.
"We've got a great chance of winning the Davis Cup again this year. We have a fantastic generation of players and sooner or later we'll win it."
Spain have won four of the five previous meetings between the two sides but they would nevertheless do well to be wary about taking on the French, who have a formidable away record in Davis Cup in recent years.
France, nine-times Davis Cup winners, have won their last six away ties in the competition, including their most recent final victory against Australia in Melbourne in 2001.
"France have a very competitive team and they always give a lot of fight in away games," Ferrero said. "But we're always favourites when we're at home."
When France walk out on to the clay court at Alicante's bullring for the start of their Davis Cup semi-final against Spain on Friday they will know just how the bull feels. Spain have been untouchable on their favourite clay surface in the Davis Cup recently.
Spain won the competition with four home victories in 2000 and reaching the final with another faultless run last year.
In Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero they have Europe's best two clay-court players, ranked at eighth and 12th in the world despite disappointing individual seasons, and Tommy Robredo and Rafael Nadal provide powerful back-up.
Spanish crowds have gained a reputation for behaviour bordering on the unsporting since their run to the title in 2000 and 10,000 fans are due each day to bait the French and roar their own players on to a place in the final against the United States or Belarus.
France are without Sebastien Grosjean and Nicolas Escude, leaving Arnaud Clement, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Fabrice Santoro and Michael Llodra -- players ranked well below Spain's top two -- to carry the country's hopes.
"It's good for us that Grosjean is not playing," said Moya after practice this week. "He is their most dangerous player.
"We've got a great chance of winning the Davis Cup again this year. We have a fantastic generation of players and sooner or later we'll win it."
Spain have won four of the five previous meetings between the two sides but they would nevertheless do well to be wary about taking on the French, who have a formidable away record in Davis Cup in recent years.
France, nine-times Davis Cup winners, have won their last six away ties in the competition, including their most recent final victory against Australia in Melbourne in 2001.
"France have a very competitive team and they always give a lot of fight in away games," Ferrero said. "But we're always favourites when we're at home."
