U.S. Open Finalists Djokovic and Nadal Lead Davis Cup Teams to Semis
The two men who brought viewers a four-hour-plus U.S. Open finals earlier this week are still on track for a potential Davis Cup rematch down the road. On Monday, Serbian Novak Djokovic defeated 2010 U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal from Spain in the U.S. Open’s final. If Djokovic’s Serbian team claims victory over Argentina this weekend, and Nadal’s Spain beats France, the two men will revisit their rivalry during the 2011 Davis Cup finals in December. Tennis Channel will provide exclusive coverage of both semifinals this weekend, with live telecasts of each match and same-day, "Instant Encore" replays. The network will cover Spain and France’s competition in Cordoba, Spain, each day beginning at 6:00 a.m. EST, followed by Serbia and Argentina’s matches in Belgrade, Serbia at 8:00 p.m. EST.
Coverage from Cordoba’s Plaza de Toros in Spain and Belgrade Arena in Serbia (all times EST):
Friday, Sept. 16
6:00 a.m. – Live Singles #1 Spain vs. France
9:00 a.m. – Live Singles #2 Spain vs. France
{12:00 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #1 Spain vs. France}
{3:00 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #2 Spain vs. France}
8:00 p.m. – Live Singles #1 Serbia vs. Argentina
11:00 p.m. – Live Singles #2 Serbia vs. Argentina
Saturday, Sept. 17
{6:00 a.m. – Instant Encore Singles #2 Spain vs. France}
9:00 a.m. – Live Doubles Spain vs. France
{12:00 p.m. – Instant Encore Doubles Spain vs. France}
{5:00 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #2 Serbia vs. Argentina}
8:00 p.m. – Live Doubles Serbia vs. Argentina
{11:00 p.m. – Instant Encore Doubles Serbia vs. Argentina}
Sunday, Sept. 18
6:00 a.m. – Live Singles #1 Spain vs. France
9:00 a.m. – Live Singles #2 Spain vs. France
{12:00 p.m. – Instant Encore Singles #2 Spain vs. France}
{5:00 p.m. – Instant Encore Doubles Serbia vs. Argentina}
8:00 p.m. – Live Singles #1 Serbia vs. Argentina
11:00 p.m. – Live Singles #2 Serbia vs. Argentina
Serbia and Argentina’s only previous Davis Cup meeting was in 1964 when the Serbian team won while competing as Yugoslavia. In 2007 Serbia made its Davis Cup debut as an independent nation and remains undefeated on home soil. The Serbian team enters this weekend’s matchup after defeating Sweden 4-1. Serbia has not lost a match since its 2009 first- round defeat against Spain. Defending champions, Serbia clinched its first Davis Cup title last year, overpowering France 3-2 in the final at Belgrade Arena.
Spain and France have faced each other seven times in Davis Cup play, with Spain holding a 5-2 advantage. However, France won the two nations’ most recent meeting in the 2010 quarterfinal when it defeated the Spaniards 5-0 in Clermont-Ferrand, France. France advanced to the finals before losing to Serbia. Spain has not lost a Davis Cup match on home soil since 1999. The Spaniards enter this weekend’s match after a 3-1 victory over the United States in Austin, Tex., this past July. Spain has dominated the past decade with Davis Cup championships coming in 2000, 2004, 2008 and, most recently, 2009 when it defeated the Czech Republic 5-0 in Barcelona, Spain.
The Serbian team is captained by Bogdan Obradovic and features World number one and 2011 U.S. Open champ Novak Djokovic, Viktor Troicki, Janko Tipsarevic and Nenand Zimonjic. Spain is captained by former tennis star Albert Costa and features the same members who won the 2009 Davis Cup title: World number two-ranked Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez.
