Spain to face Brazil to stay in Davis Cup World Group

Madrid, April 9 (IANS/EFE) Spain will take on Brazil Sep 12-14 at an undetermined venue in the South American country to decide which of the two teams will stay in the Davis Cup World Group next season.

“It’s going to be a complicated tie because it’s always hard playing away from home and because, based on my experiences in Brazil, the crowd always really gets into it to support their own and creates a really strong Davis Cup atmosphere,” Spanish Davis Cup captain Carlos Moya said Tuesday.

“They have a first-rate doubles team and a player like Thomaz Bellucci who, when he is ready to go and has no injuries, is a clear top-30 player on the world tour,” Moya said.

Spanish Tennis Federation president Jose Luis Escañuela, for his part, said the tie against Brazil would be a huge event against a strong rival.

“Experience tells us that playing away from home is a huge obstacle, but I have full confidence that Carlos Moya and our players will win this tie and keep Spain in the World Group. We are going to experience a tie full of passion,” Escañuela said.

Spain and Brazil have played each other seven times in the Davis Cup, with the Iberian nation holding a 5-2 record.

The two countries last faced each other in 1999, when Brazil won at CT Lleida.

–IANS/EFE