PHOTOS The Spanish team arrived in Sevilla yesterday to begin preparing for the Davis Cup final. Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco are also practicing with the team and will serve as alternates. It is still in question whether or not JC will play.



pic: hitting practice

Posted by nana at 4:00 AM

POSTCARDS

Yay! More postcards. Thanks guys they look (and smell) great ^^
To everyone else, I can't stress this enough, please don't procrastinate. And before you send in your postcards be sure to read the project details carefully.

-POSTCARDS RECEIVED-

* Amanda - Australia
* Bethany - USA
* Calla Cao - China
Carole - Belgium
Francine - Holland
* Lindsay - USA
Sharai - Netherlands
* Song Wei - China
Tanja - Germany

* received this week

Posted by nana at 11:48 AM

POSTCARD PROJECT UPDATE Thank you to everyone who's sent in postcards! I've just received the first batch but we're still far from reaching our goal of 100 postcards. So if you're thinking about sending JC a good luck message please do not procrastinate. Only one more month left till the deadline and it takes about a week for your cards to reach me.

Below is a list of postcards received. I'll be sure to post an updated list every week from now on. Again thank you guys ^^

>> project details


-POSTCARDS RECEIVED-

Carole - Belgium
Francine - Holland
Sharai - Netherlands
Tanja - Germany

Posted by nana at 3:57 AM

PHOTOS AND VIDEO A short new clip from the conference JC held yesterday regarding the DC final.

[EDIT] Sorry looks like they've taken down the pictures and video already [/EDIT]

>> video


pic: France and Spain from the SF
pic: JC v. Santoro
pic: the Armada

Posted by nana at 5:01 AM

ARTICLE

Antonio Martínez Cascales, JCF's coach, announced that JC will be leaving the Valencia Tennis Club because of some differences in opinion with the board of directives. This means that the "Open de la Communidad Valenciana" (tournament in Valencia), which JC owns the rights to, will have to move to another tennis club. "From now on, Ferrero leaves the CT Valencia and will compete under license of his own club in Villena, the Equelite Acadamy."

The player and his coach will be looking for another site to host the 3rd annual Valencia Open. "We want it to remain in Valencia," said Cascales. There is also a possibility that it will change surface and dates.

>> full article (in Spanish)


Much thanks to Ana for this translation

Posted by nana at 9:19 AM

PHOTOS Some shots of JC during a DC news conference. He commented that he feels Spain is the favorite since they're playing at home and on clay. Also he said that the Davis Cup is his only remaining objective for the year.



pic: taking questions

The Spanish coaches have also invited Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco to be at the final as backup players. Also, Guillermo García, JC's practice partner, may serve as a "sparring" partner for the team to help them prepare for the final.

The coaches said that they're very confident in their team. They don't want to underestimate their oppenent, but, "We are the favorties, we've proved it in the last 11 ties."

For Jordi Arrese, it doesn't matter who the rivals are because he thinks Spain has the best team to play on clay. "The most important thing is that our players be at their highest level, because we are the best on clay and, with all due respect, we shouldn't worry in least who will come [play against us]."

>> article (in Spanish)


Thanks to Ana for the articles and translations ^^

Posted by nana at 5:25 AM

DC UPDATE Spain announce Davis Cup line-up

Spain have named an unchanged team for the Davis Cup final against the United States in Seville on 3-5 December.

Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo will take on the US in front of 22,000 fans at the converted Olympic stadium.

It is the same team that defeated France 4-1 in the semi-finals.

Moya and the struggling Ferrero are likely to play the singles rubbers, with Nadal and Robredo continuing their doubles partnership.

Spain won the Davis Cup in 2000 and reached the final last year, when they lost to Australia in Melbourne.

Posted by nana at 5:20 AM

ARTICLE Hewitt picks Spain for Davis Cup win

Lleyton Hewitt believes the Spanish squad have a better chance of winning the Davis Cup next month than the United States, who aim for their first victory since 1995 in Seville. The world number three reckons the strength in depth of the 2000 champions will earn them a second title.


On a slow clay-court in Seville, the 23-year-old says a squad consisting Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero and back up from Rafael Nadal, Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez will be tough to beat.

"It's going to be interesting who they [Spain] put in for starters," Hewitt said at the Paris Masters on Thursday.

"While Ferrero hasn't had the best form lately, you've still got Nadal, Robredo and Lopez. They could even bring [Albert] Costa back."

Patrick McEnroe, the U.S. Open Davis Cup captain, is expected to pick Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish and brothers Bob and Mike Bryan for the final starting on 3 December.

Hewitt insists: "A lot of weight's going to be put on Roddick, but he hasn't played his best tennis on red clay.

"So I'd have to go with Spain at the moment."

Posted by nana at 11:33 AM

VIDEO AT THE TRACK- A nice video of JC, Nalbandian and Srichaphan during AMS Madrid visiting the racetrack. They met up with Formula One driver Pedro de la Rosa who took each player for a run around the track in the new Mercedes McLaren SLR.

>> download

Real Player
>> high bandwidth
>> low bandwidth

Window Media Player
>> high bandwidth
>> low bandwidth

Posted by nana at 11:40 AM

SIGHTING So what has JC been doing with his freetime? Well, he was spotted at the racetrack supporting his fellow Telefonica sponsored MotoGP racers.

He's seen here with Sete Gibernau's girlfriend, model Esther Cañadas.

Telefonica Movistar Honda team's Dani Pedrosa prevailed in Cheste and JC was there to congratulate him on his win.

>> full article

Posted by nana at 4:49 PM