Davis Cup Preview: USA vs Spain

Could the domination of the Davis Cup maintain by the Spanish? This Friday in the historic and beautiful city of Gijon, Spain, the US will battle the Spanish squad for the eleventh time in Davis Cup history. The teams come in tied, 5 to 5 head-to-head. The Americans will look to avenge last year's loss to Spain on home soil and are attempting to halt a two tie losing streak to the Spanish team.  Looking to continue its Davis Cup stranglehold, Spain owner of 5 cup titles in the past 11 years, should feel as a favorite at home over a depleted US team.



The Spaniards will be loaded with a strong cast of characters, but will be missing its best, Rafael Nadal, due to an injured knee. The US will be missing Mardy Fish due to health concerns and are also without recently retired Andy Roddick. John Isner, the new American flag barer, will be looking to carry the Yankees with the help of Sam Querrey and the Bryan brothers. The Spaniards will have US Open semifinalist and #5 ranked player of the world, David Ferrer along with #12 ranked player Nicolas Almagro fill their singles card. Their doubles will be composed of Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez. Even though the team looks strong, there might me a couple of loop holes the Americans can exploit.

John Isner is 4-0 in Davis Cup play this year, all on clay! He has also taken the king of clay in Nadal to five sets at Roland Garros. His big serve can really neutralize the surface and could be seen as a big advantage for the Americans. Big John will be facing Nico Almagro in the second match of the tie. Nico has a 1-0 head-to-head record against the 6'9 American and surprisingly his win was on grass at 2011 Wimbledon. This match should be a swing match and most likely would even up the tie or put the Spaniards up 2-0 going into Saturday.

The first match has David Ferrer facing Sam Querrey. Ferrer should be a heavy, heavy favorite versus the rejuvenated American. They have faced off twice in their career splitting the encounters; both matches on hard court. This time the match will be on Spanish clay. It will be a tall order for Querrey to pull of the upset over the short guy Ferrer.

Doubles should be penciled in for the American squad who has gone 19-2 in their career. Granollers and Lopez are a strong team as they demonstrated at the Open making it all the way to the semis, but the American team did go on to win that same tournament; the twelve major of their historic career. Lopez has recovered from an injured calf that saw him and Granollers retire from the US Open. Healthy, they could give the Bryans a run for their money, but with the skills the greatest doubles team in history has, the Bryans should keep the Americans in striking distance or put them ahead going into the weekend.

Sunday should be the day we meet the finalist of the Davis Cup. In the fourth match, Alex Corretja, Spain's captain, will send his best player, David Ferrer, against America's best in John Isner. This match has huge implications when it comes to the results of the tie and will be the most viewed. Ferrer has a 3-1 head-to-head record versus the American with all matches on hard court. The only win for John was in 2011 in Paris, indoor hard. Jim Courier, America's captain, is hoping that Big John can continue his magic on Davis Cup.

The fifth and final match could see the result of the Cup lie on the shoulders of Almagro and Querrey. As good as Almagro is, Spain will be missing and wishing Rafa was the one playing as it would almost guarantee a win. On paper, Nico should be the victor of this match with a 3-2 head-to-head record, winning the last three matches, but it is far from a certainty. Who knew that the scariest player on the American squad would not be Fish, Roddick or Isner, but rather Sam Querrey.

This match should be a battle all the way until the end. The Americans come in hungry looking for their first Davis Cup title since 2007 while the Spanish are attempting to keep their dominance in Davis Cup. Expect some matches to be lopsided, but the tie should come down to the end. Watch out for the fourth match, Ferrer-Isner, as it will decide or put a team a win away from the final.

It will be a tennis filled weekend with history at stake!