History will be made in the first round of the 2012 Davis Cup when reigning champions Spain take on Kazakhstan for the first time in the tournaments history.
Spain, five times Davis Cup champions will be without the services of Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer but still take a strong side to face the minnows of Kazakhstan. Current World No. 11 Nicolas Almagro will look to be the leading light for the Spanish team. The 26 year old got to the fourth round of the Australian Open in January and will look to ensure there will be no upsets on the cards in Madrid.
World No. 26 Marcel Granollers and 2003 French Open Champion Juan Carlos Ferrero as well as doubles specialist Marc Lopez make up the rest of the home side looking to take the first step in defending their title.
Much of the hopes of the Kazakhstan’s team lie with World No. 64, Mikhail Kukushkin. The 24 year old, who has one ATP career title to his name after winning the 2010 St. Petersburg Open, will need to be in inspired form if the underdogs are to take at least a point from the Spanish. Andrey Golubev, Yuriy Schukin and Evgeny Korolev complete the line-up for the visitors. Their task is made even more difficult when the record books show that the Spanish haven’t lost a Davis Cup tie on home soil since 1999 stretching back an incredible 21 ties.
Prediction: Spain 5-0
Date: 10 Feb - 12 Feb 2012
Venue: Palacio Municipal de los Deportes, Oviedo, Spain
Surface: Clay (Red Clay), Indoor
