Madrid - Rafael Nadal and his Spanish Davis Cup team-mates are furious with the nation's tennis federation chief Pedro Munoz over the choice of venue for the September semi-final against title holders United States. Munoz appears to want the tie in Madrid which the players oppose because the conditions could take away their advantage on clay.
Munoz had allegedly promised the players that they could chose the venue and Nadal and company aimed to play in a seaside town September 19-21. The other candidates Tenerife, Benidorm and Gijon all meet this criteria.
Spain captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario and the players including world number two Nadal and two further former French Open champions, Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero, said in an open letter that Munoz has "deceived some, if not all, of the candidate cities into believing that they had a chance of holding the tie when, in all moments, they never really had a chance."
The players said they will not take part in any sponsor and promotional events of the Spanish federation as long as Munoz is president.
Madrid's bull rink Las Ventas promises the biggest income with its 24,000 seats. In addition, Madrid's tourist office recently became a Davis Cup team sponsor.
But the players feel that Madrid's altitude of 650 metres would take away their home court advantage.
Play is faster in thinner air which could help the US team led by big-serving Andy Roddick. Spain prefers the clay court action to be slow.
