Spanish Team doctor Angel Ruiz-Cottoro has diagnosed Nadal’s knee injury as tendinitis that will require several days treatment, followed by several days of rest. After more tests are made following his rest, Rafa may start light on-court training, if he feels any sign of pain he must agree to a period of complete rest and no exercise if he wishes to avoid a knee operation. Davis Cup coach Emillio Sanchez says he will not select Nadal to represent Spain if he is not 100% fit. Rafael has been quoted as saying that he will do almost anything possible to play against Argentine, but will abide by any decision that is made by coach Sanchez and his own coach Uncle Tony. He knows an early return could be disastrous to his playing career, and at just 20 years of age it is the toughest position he has ever had to face.

Emilio Sanchez is faced with a tough decision. He knows that without Rafael Nadal the Spanish team will be the under dogs, he also knows that his choice of players has to be based not only on their current rankings but also on their ability to rise to the occasion and play their best on the unfamiliar courts in Buenos Aires. Spain does have many top players that Sanchez can select, David Ferer was to be Nadal’s teammate as the second singles player even though he has been in a slump and has dropped from 6^th. to 12^th. place. The doubles pair were to be Fernando Verdasco (ranked #16) and Felix Lopez(ranked #31). Veteran Tommy Robredo who is currently ranked at #19 might be the choice to join the team, this would provide Coach Sanchez with several options as to who he uses for singles and who he pairs up to play doubles.

The team from Argentine now looks to be the strongest in singles, but has made a change in the selection of the doubles pairing which lost to the Russian team in the semi final. Guillermo Canas has been replaced by Jose Acasusa, since his ranking has dropped to 77^th.

Without Nadal in the mix, the whole picture changes. Spain is no longer guaranteed to win any singles matches, it would have been hard to believe that had he played Nadal would have lost both of his matches, and winning a two singles matches out of the four that comprise the Davis Cup might rest on the shoulders of Ferrer and Verdasco. Tommy Robredo is a ‘big’ match player, he sometimes plays better than his ranking would suggest, he is also experienced and might just take a match from the young Argentine player Juan Martin del Potro who will be under extreme pressure playing in front of his home country fans, and tired from playing in the Shanghai Masters Cup. Spain should win the doubles with any combination of players, and it will be the coaches decision as to who he uses against David Nalbandian and del Potro in singles.

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