Tomas Berdych.net

Barcelona to host Davis Cup final between Spain and the Czech Republic

Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Davis Cup final between defending champion Spain and the Czech Republic will be played at the indoor Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, the Spanish tennis federation announced Saturday.

The final decision will be made by the International Tennis Federation, but it has already approved the venue having previously rejected Tenerife in the Canary Islands and the southern port city of Malaga because they were open-air venues. Malaga's stadium also fell under the minimum seating capacity of 12,000.

The best-of-five series is to be held Dec. 4-6 on clay courts at Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi, the Spanish federation said.

The Spanish federation voted 13-1 in favour of the northeastern sports complex at a meeting at the Real Club de Tenis Oviedo.

Spain won the first of its three Davis Cup titles in Barcelona back in 2000, defeating Australia. The Spaniards are also the defending champions and have won 17 straight home Davis Cup ties.

The Czech Republic is playing for the Davis Cup crown for the first time as a solitary nation. In 1980, Czechoslovakia won the title led by the great Ivan Lendl.