Tennis: No Spanish underdogs - Simpson

By Terry Maddaford

New Zealand's non-playing tennis captain Jeff Simpson is not being sucked in by Spanish claims that they go into the Davis Cup tie at Hamilton's Mystery Creek as underdogs.

"They are simply trying to offload the pressure on their players," said Simpson. "How could any team headed by players ranked 15 and 25 in the world regard themselves as underdogs.

"Anytime you are playing off for a place in the world group - which are the top 16 tennis-playing countries in the world - you are up against the best.

"A couple of years ago when he was ranked 15 or 16 in the world, Felix Mantilla was only the fifth player in the Spanish team.

"That brings it into perspective. There are more than 190 countries in the world playing tennis and we are chasing a place in the top 16. In that world we are always going to be the underdog."

Of suggestions that the indoor surface would greatly favour the home side, Simpson said the Spaniards play on such surfaces all the time.

"Only if we had been able to play on grass would we have had any decided advantage."

Simpson, understandably, would not say who will play the tie which starts tomorrow morning, but it seems certain that Brett Steven and Mark Nielsen will play singles - in that order - and Steven will team with James Greenhalgh for Saturday's doubles.

The Spanish will probably play Mantilla and Francisco Clavet in the singles and will select their doubles pairing from the five players they have brought to New Zealand.

Both teams will be named at the official draw in Hamilton at noon today, although changes can be made to the doubles combination up to an hour before that match.

The only interest in the draw will be in the order of play on tomorrow's first day. In an ideal world, Steven would meet Clavet first up in the hope of giving New Zealand a winning start.

Mystery Creek Stadium general manager Barry Quayle is confident the surface - which has cost around $70,000 to prepare - will win wide approval.

"We have put four additional layers on the Laykold court which brings it up to nine," said Quayle. "It is quicker than it has ever been but with some cushioning."

The attractive blue court is user-friendly with the crowd close to the action. Additional seating has brought the number to 4300. Unless there is a last minute flurry, officials fear the stadium might be only half full.