David Ferrer plays Juan Martin Del Potro in a vital Davis Cup rubber on Friday afternoon.
This is an absolutely pivotal rubber in the context of the tie as if Argentina are going to have any chance, Del Potro needs to pull off an upset against world number five Ferrer. If he loses and they go into the weekend 2-0 down, it's hard to see them having any chance.
Ferrer has finished the season strongly, beating Novak Djokovic on the way to the ATP World Tour Finals semis but Del Potro will feel he has a chance. Ferrer has admitted he's feeling weary at the end of the season while Del Potro is fit and raring to go, having taken the past month off just to prepare for this final.
Ferrer will definitely find himself doing plenty of running, chasing down Del Potro's raking groundstrokes. Ferrer and Del Potro are 2-2 on the head-to-head but none of those encounters have been on clay. Del Potro has won the last two - 6-1, 7-5 in Tokyo 2008 and 6-3, 6-2 in Miami 2009.
Del Potro is hoping he will finally be able to erase the scars of the 2008 final this weekend. Argentina were huge favourites on a fast indoor court in Bueno Aires against a weakened Spanish side but Fernando Verdasco inspired his country to a famous victory.
"That (2008) is in the past, completely in the past," Del Potro told the press. "After that final, we grew up, I've improved my game a lot and now we have another chance. We are very calm within the team and trying to do everything okay to be ready to fight. To me, every final is different. Here it's different players, different surface, different stadium and this time Spain is the favourite. It's going to be different than Mar del Plata, if we are in good shape and remain focused."
Prediction: Del Potro in five.
