ODENSE, September 17, 2015
Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer will return to Davis Cup action on Friday, playing with Spain the Zone Group I Play-off-tie against Denmark in Odense.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion Nadal will open proceedings against world number 909 Mikael Torpegaard. “It’s a childhood dream coming true,” the 21-year-old Danish was overwhelmed. “Since I was a little boy, Nadal has been my idol. It is a great opportunity and I will take this match as an experience. I will do my best.”
Nadal and Torpegaard will be followed by Danish number one Frederik Nielsen, who captured the doubles title with Jonathan Marray in 2012, facing David Ferrer.
Rafael Nadal will face Mikael Torpegaard (photo: Dansk Tennis Forbund)
David Ferrer will take on Frederik Nielsen (photo: Dansk Tennis Forbund)
Roberto Bautista-Agut and Fernando Verdasco will take to court in Saturday’s doubles rubber taking on Thomas Kromann teaming up with Nielsen. On Sunday, Nadal is scheduled to play Nielsen in the fourth rubber, before Torpegaard and Ferrer round out the action in Denmark.
Although the team of Conchita Martínez is bringing out the most powerful weapons in their arsenal, the Danish captain aims a sensation against the Spaniards.
“The only thing I ask the players is to do their best. I do not ask for more. We tried to prepare ourselves as usual. We try to tie it to something quite normal but of course it will be special experience,” says Kenneth Carlsen and adds: “We hope to create a sensation but for this every man needs to have a perfect day.”
Kenneth Carlsen (photo: Dansk Tennis Forbund)
It will be the fifth tie between the two nations in the Davis Cup. Each team has gained two victories in the previous meetings. Denmark beat Spain in their first clash in Copenhagen on clay 3-2, back in 1964.
The Iberians took revenge in 1975, when they emerged victorious winning 5-0 in Murcia. Denmark was able to capture another 3-2 win on home soil in Aarhus in 1988 and Spain won the last meeting 4-1 in Tarragona in 1996.
The winner will remain in Europe/Africa Zone Group I for 2016, while the loser will face Sweden in a relegation play-off later this year.
