Spain confident of successful defence

Triumphant Davis Cup captain Javier Duarte believes Spain now have the strength and versatility to repeat their success in the competition, as long as they do not have to play on grass.

Spain, who won the title for the first time by beating Australia in this weekend's final, were fortunate this year to play all their Davis Cup matches at home.

In four ties against Italy, Russia, the United States and finally Australia, Duarte's side lost just two out of 19 rubbers as their opponents were all found to have feet of clay.

Spain are likely to find the defence of their title, starting with an away tie against the Netherlands in February, a little trickier but Duarte is confident his side can also do well on other surfaces.

"It's perfectly possible for us to defend the title on surfaces other than clay," said Duarte, one of a four-man technical committee in charge of the Davis Cup team.

"We know it will be tougher but we have players who have proved themselves on other surfaces, winning tournaments.

"It's been a learning process for them in many ways. They may have gone out in the first round one year, but then they've reached the second round the next year, then the quarter-finals and onwards.

"We now play very good tennis on hardcourt and in fact I'm looking forward to playing matches on that surface.

"Grass, I have to say, might be tougher. We just don't play enough on it."

Grass, of course, is exactly what awaits them the next time they face Australia, whose coach John Newcombe warned they would be playing "on what the cows eat".

The key factor for Duarte, however, is the sheer amount of talent he has at his disposal.

Since Duarte took over as captain for the first round match against Italy, Spain have used just five players: Alex Corretja, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Juan Balcells, Albert Costa and Francisco Clavet.

There have been many more players pushing for places, though, including former French Open champion Carlos Moya, and Duarte recognised that he would have some thinking to do next year.

"The main problem for the future is that we can pick only four players for each match," he said. "There are so many good young players in this generation, which is the best Spain has ever had.

"The thing I want to underline is that the average age of this group we have is very young. They were born into tennis, most of them, and they've earned this prize we've won."

The Davis Cup final results:

Spain 3 Australia 1

Friday 8th December
Albert Costa (ESP) lost to Lleyton Hewitt (AUS), 63 16 62 46 46 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) v Patrick Rafter (AUS), 67 76 62 31 injury retire

Saturday 9th December
Juan Balcells/Alex Corretja (ESP) def. Sandon Stolle/Mark Woodforde (AUS), 64 64 64

Sunday 10th December
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS), 62 76 46 64 Albert Costa (ESP) v Patrick Rafter (AUS), not played