MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina – Conveying a sense of reserved confidence on the eve of their historic Davis Cup matchup, Spanish and Argentinean players shook hands, answered questions, and posed in front of the priceless silver cup that each team hopes to be holding high on Sunday.
Both players and spectators are aware of the tie's significance: The heavyweights of the tennis-crazed Hispanic world are colliding south of Buenos Aires, the nation's capital, and the now-heavily-favored Argentineans have a chance to bring the Cup home to Latin America for the first time.
In front of hundreds of journalists and photographers, officials announced Thursday that Spain's David Ferrer and Argentina's David Nalbandian would play the opening match Friday, followed by Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Argentina's top player, Juan Martin del Potro. The doubles match is scheduled for Saturday and the two reverse singles ties are scheduled for Sunday in the best-of-five series.
Del Potro said he felt better Thursday, and was ready to go for his match. Many pundits had been concerned about del Potro's adjustment following a long flight from China, as well as a nagging toe injury.
And while the buzz is certainly palpable here, many Argentineans said they would have rather seen Spain bring along Rafael Nadal, the world's best player and a fixture of admiration and pride even for Argentineans. Local newspaper polls confirmed that most wanted to see Nadal in action, despite the fact that Argentina now has a much better chance of pulling out a victory without him.
Earlier this month, Nadal said he could not play because of knee tendinitis.
"I would have preferred that he came," local resident Fabio Depaoli said in Spanish while strolling along Mar del Plata's sun-soaked pedestrian walkway. Depaoli, who said most Argentineans wanted to see Nadal compete in person, added that the home team would "definitely" win the tie given the absence of the world's top player.
With Nadal out, this weekend's final represents a huge opportunity for Argentina. The hosts chose the surface and the venue: an indoor stadium and a hard surface which they hope would throw off their Spanish counterparts. Argentina will also be playing to a hyped, partisan crowd that is seeing its first Davis Cup final on home soil. Argentineans are well aware of their two previous final appearances and defeats -- in 1981 at the hands of the U.S. and John McEnroe, and in 2006 against Marat Safin and Russia.
In the 105 Davis Cup finals, the hosts have won 71 times. Only once in the last six finals has the visiting team won – in 2005, when Croatia defeated host Slovakia.
Alberto Rosendi, who travelled to Mar del Plata from Buenos Aires but couldn't afford a ticket, said that a Davis Cup win would motivate a newer generation of tennis players and fans. Gabriela Sabatini and Guillermo Vilas inspired thousands to pick up a racquet, and a boom in tennis ensued. But a Davis Cup title even eluded the great Vilas.
Rosendi and others expressed anger and dissatisfaction at the price of tickets, which, at the low end, were going for around $(U.S.) 400, he and other fans said.
But all seemed to share confidence in their team, enjoying the mild weather Thursday, sitting outside at Mar del Plata's cafes and walking along on what will be a very crowded beach boardwalk come Friday.
Roberto Garcia, an Argentinean on vacation from his home in Spain, said it's hard to compare the Davis Cup to soccer's World Cup. Fútbol, he said, is "another thing," and a World Cup win would feel like "touching heaven with our hands." But Garcia did not minimize the potential impact of an Argentinean victory, saying everyone would be feel "tremendous satisfaction" with that result.
Mar del Plata native Iseber Mayano agreed.
"For Argentina, for Mar del Plata, it's a great thing," Mayano said of the Davis Cup and a possible win. "It represents everyone."